Living Sectors · BTR
Build to Rent Energy Strategy & Grid Advisory
Block One Group advises Build to Rent investors, developers and operators on the energy and grid decisions that materially move asset value. We are independent, customer-side, and built to uncover the value most BTR portfolios do not know they are losing.
Why BTR needs an independent energy advisor
BTR combines the operating intensity of a hotel with the balance-sheet expectations of long-hold real estate. Energy is one of the largest controllable operating costs and — because of how MOP/DC/DA, metering, transformer ratios and commercial tenant recharges interact — one of the most frequently mis-run.
We have never met a BTR asset that did not have at least one material commercial issue in its energy stack. On the assets we review, the issues typically add up to six or seven figures over a hold period.
How we work with BTR investors and operators
Pre-acquisition and refinancing due diligence
Independent energy DD on grid connection adequacy, metering integrity, commercial contributions, sub-metering compliance, TnUOS exposure and inherited supply contracts. Delivered on transaction timelines.
Operational transformation
Portfolio-level procurement, disputed-charge recovery, transformer ratio corrections, metering redesign and commercial tenant contribution recovery. Fees are credited on engagement — you see 100% of savings before you commit.
Long-run performance
Ongoing customer-side management: budget certainty, ESG-grade reporting, invoice validation, and a permanent defence against the erosion of value from opaque supplier and TPI relationships.
Track record
On a Manchester BTR asset preparing for refinancing we recovered a c.£500k credit from the supplier and DNO, removed £220k/yr of run-rate overcharges and recovered £60k of unpaid commercial tenant contributions. See the Manchester BTR case study.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When in the BTR lifecycle should we engage Block One?
The earliest engagement pays back the most. Pre-planning grid connection strategy, pre-acquisition DD and pre-refinancing reviews consistently unlock the largest value. That said, most of the biggest wins we deliver are on operational assets whose owners had no idea the issues existed.
Do you replace our energy broker?
In most cases, yes — because their commercial model is misaligned with your interests. Where a client prefers a supplier-paid commission route we still support that, but with full disclosure of every fee earned.
Can you help with commercial tenant recharges and sub-metering?
Yes. Metering redesign, sub-metering compliance and commercial tenant recovery are three of the areas where we most reliably uncover value on BTR assets.
Do you operate outside London?
Yes. We work UK-wide from our Cardiff base — the majority of our BTR engagements are outside London.