Housing & Residential: South East Picture Living Recycles Capital through Portfolio Sale to Invest £23m in Essex’s Housing Future August 16th, 2023 Mya Driver In a strategic move to target new single-family homes, Picture Living has sold two portfolios, Spark and Seville, enabling the recycling of capital. Following this sale, the company has pledged £23 million to support two private rented sector (PRS) developments in Essex. This investment marks a significant step in Picture Living’s mission to provide high-quality rental homes across the country.Two New DevelopmentsIn Coggeshall, north Essex, a collaboration with Vistry Group will result in 36 new homes, with the first set to be available at the beginning of 2024. Meanwhile, in Elsenham, north-west Essex, Dandara will develop 27 properties, with completion expected in the summer of 2024.A Growing PortfolioPicture Living’s commitment to investing in modern houses for rent is evident in its current assets under management (AUM) of £350 million. The company’s portfolio includes approximately 1,725 single-family homes and apartments, with more than 160 currently under development. Recent acquisitions include 106 single-family homes across three schemes in Market Harborough, Warwick, and Derby.Strategic Acquisitions and PartnershipsThe sale of the Spark and Seville portfolios has been a key part of Picture Living’s acquisition strategy, allowing for capital recycling to target new single-family homes. Picture Living’s alignment with like-minded firms has enabled them to leverage strengths and expertise to bring more professionally managed rental homes to the market.