Greystar has acquired Native Communities from Ares Real Estate funds, founder Guy Nixon and management shareholders, for an undisclosed price.
Native operates a national portfolio of 37 residential and mixed-use assets, providing more than 9,000 homes across England, Scotland and Wales.
Following completion of the deal, Native’s operations will be merged with Greystar’s third-party property management business, with teams based in Manchester and London, complementing Greystar’s existing UK operating business, which manages around 44,000 PBSA beds and BTR homes.
The third-party property management business and Greystar’s owned investment portfolio will operate as separate business lines, “ensuring integrity of interests and a clear focus on long-term performance”.
Mark Allnutt, executive director – Europe, at Greystar, said: “The acquisition of Native Communities marks an important step in expanding our third-party property management business across Europe. It strengthens our operating depth and enhances our ability to support clients as their portfolios grow across markets and sectors.
“We are pleased to welcome Native’s talented team members to Greystar. Their experience and client relationships will be central to our continued growth. As investment in Europe’s living sectors increases, clients require operating partners that combine local execution with real scale. We are well positioned to deliver that with consistency and strong governance.”
Bobby Faith, managing director – third-party property management, Europe, at Greystar, added: “Native has built a highly regarded third-party property management business with strong client relationships and a talented team, and we are excited to bring our organisations together. This transaction accelerates a strategy already underway at Greystar, allowing us to scale third-party property management in a deliberate and disciplined way. Together, we are combining deep operating expertise with the systems and resources of a global organisation to deliver bespoke solutions and consistent outcomes for clients, whether managing a single asset or a multi-market portfolio.”
Guy Nixon, CEO of Native Communities, said: “Native’s success over the past 20 years has been built on a strong focus on execution, service quality and long-term client relationships. Joining Greystar combines those strengths with a global rental housing platform with the scale, experience and infrastructure to strengthen the support we offer to our clients across the UK and Europe.
“For our clients, this means continuity of service alongside access to deeper expertise, broader insight and a platform designed to grow with them over time. For our teams, it is an opportunity to be part of a business that shares our values and ambition as we enter the next phase of growth together. We also thank Ares for consistently supporting us with our growth initiatives and critical operational enhancements during our partnership.”
John Ruane, partner and co-head of European real estate at Ares, said: “For the last 10 years, we have supported Guy and his team with the expansion of Native’s portfolio from five assets to 37 today, representing the addition of 9,000 high quality homes. We are proud to have been a part of Native’s growth journey, providing our insights and resources to help the business fulfil its potential, and wish the team well in this exciting new chapter.”
