Bathford Partners

Bathford Partners is a private business established by Richard Crawshay Jones, Neil Young, and Sylvana Young, built upon decades of collective experience and a strong commitment to values. The firm operates with a foundation of robust, long-term collaboration, where the team's unique chemistry, complementary skillsets, and shared vision guide its refined approach to real estate investment. Bathford Partners focuses on a sophisticated investment strategy that aims to deliver significant rewards while also meaningfully enhancing assets for their users. The company's extensive experience spans many decades within the residential sector, where its team has been at the forefront of institutionalising the residential rental market.

The firm's investment strategy centres on identifying and enhancing value in underinvested assets, typically within the £10-£20 million range, although it maintains flexibility for exceptional opportunities. Bathford Partners targets properties where historical neglect has created significant upside potential, where current owners are seeking strategic exits, or where established portfolios require fresh ownership and a new direction to unlock further growth. A core principle of the company's approach involves strong sustainability attributes. The firm has a proven track record of implementing improvements, including enhancing EPC ratings, reducing energy consumption, and fostering community development across diverse asset sizes.

Bathford Partners' expertise extends across the broader Living Sector, encompassing Private Rented Sector (PRS), key worker accommodation, and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) markets. The firm has recently invested in five well-located student assets situated in the strong university cities of Bath and Oxford. These properties have undergone upgrades, leading to corresponding rental increases that have exceeded initial forecasts. Since 2020, Bathford Partners has deployed approximately £100 million into the UK student accommodation sector through various private equity vehicles, successfully attracting both institutional and high-net-worth/family office investors. The firm's recent expertise and commitment are particularly focused on the dynamic student accommodation sector, where it continues to build and innovate for the future.

The company has cultivated a loyal network of partners, which includes exceptional solicitors, strong funding relationships, reliable contractors, and diligent managing agents. This extensive network, developed and nurtured over decades, is a testament to the firm's enduring relationships and forms an invaluable asset, encompassing numerous contented investors and residents. Sylvana Young, a co-founder, qualified as a Surveyor in the early 1990s and commenced her career with Segro, Warner Music, and DTZ. She was a founding member of Young in 2003 and later served as Chief Design Officer for Get Living from 2014, contributing to its growth into a significant listed REIT. Her expertise lies in generating asset value by creating desirable living, working, and visiting environments, applying her design intelligence to diverse development schemes and public realm projects across the UK.