Living

We provide tailored legal solutions for the Living sector, including developers of build-to-rent sites, later-life living properties, and student accommodation - helping you navigate complex development and investment challenges.

Overview

Our Real Estate team delivers integrated advice for investors, developers, and operators across the Living sector. From strategic land acquisition to construction and planning, we ensure your projects are future-proofed and compliant. 

Build-to-Rent 

Our specialist team provide a high-quality, one-stop legal service for investors, developers, and managers of build-to-rent accommodation in both the private and public sector. From luxury developments to single-family homes, co-living, and affordable housing, our team can support. We advise on strategic land transactions, planning and environment, partnerships and joint ventures, litigation, M&A, construction, and more. 

Later-life living 

Our later life living specialists combine their residential development and health and social care expertise to address the unique needs of retirement housing, retirement communities, and care homes. We provide a full suite of real estate services and deliver custom solutions, including plot sales, planning and environmental, construction, regulatory, and investment and development. 

Student accommodation 

We advise developers of student accommodation, universities, and colleges on student housing and campus developments. We offer a one-stop shop for developers, including site acquisition, planning and environment, estate enhancement and rationalisation, and joint ventures and funding. 

Featured experience

Build-to-rent corporate sale

Advising a leading development and asset management company on the corporate sale of two build-to-rent developments comprising 490 units at Wembley Park

Later-life living

Acting for a private equity-backed care home provider on the property elements of its corporate disposal of c.80 care homes valued at around £750m – including negotiating the property provisions of the SPA, and feeding into other documents as the company was prepared for sale

FAQs

We advise on a wide range projects, including build-to-rent, later-life living, and student accommodation. Our experience covers projects at different stages, from early site acquisition through to development, operation, and investment.
Yes. We work with investors, developers, operators, and managers in both the private and public sectors. Our advice is always tailored to the differing commercial, operational, and regulatory considerations you're facing.
Our team consists of specialists with experience across residential development, construction, planning, investment, and related corporate matters. This allows us to support clients working across, while recognising the distinct requirements of each type of project.
Yes. We advise on partnerships, joint ventures, and other collaborative delivery models commonly used across build-to-rent, student accommodation, and later-life living schemes, alongside associated investment, development, and funding arrangements.
Yes. We can support developments at all stages, including site acquisition, planning and construction, operation and management considerations, portfolio management, and transactional work, depending on the project and your commercial objectives.
  • The lawyers are proactive, professional and effective at taking the burden of transactions away from the client while keeping the client appropriately informed and involved.

    Chambers and Partners UK, 2026 – Real Estate: £10 million and above

  • DAC provides excellent advice, has good knowledge of our estate and healthcare, and a very personable team.

    Chambers and Partners UK, 2026 – Real Estate: South West

  • Excellent service and very responsive.

    Legal 500 UK, 2026 – Commercial Property (South West)

  • They have an outstanding commercial approach, exceptional turnaround times and deep subject matter expertise. They brought a wealth of both technical and practical experience and knowledge.

    Chambers and Partners UK, 2026 – Real Estate: Yorkshire

Living key contacts

Who we are

Why choose DAC Beachcroft?

We’re a broad-based commercial firm serving a wide range of sectors with a strong heritage in insurance,
health and real estate. We combine excellent legal skills and cutting-edge delivery expertise to design
solutions that fit the needs of our clients – often involving clever uses of technology.