Schroder UK Real Estate Fund (SREF) has instructed industry storage specialist, Flexiss as the new asset manager for its 230,000 sq ft self-storage portfolio of five assets around London.
Flexiss will manage SREF’s portfolio of self-storage assets which are all located around outer London and the M25, and operates under SREF’s specialist brand name the Self Storage Company, as the fund seeks to further grow rental income and investment returns.
SREF was amongst the first investors entering this alternative market when it acquired the Self Storage Company brand and its portfolio of self storage assets in Q3 2017.
SREF recognised the potential to capitalise on demographic trends where demand was being driven by the changing occupancy patterns within the residential sector, especially in highly urbanised areas such as London. Storage space is also in high demand amongst start-up businesses and online retailers, offering further growth opportunities that the fund believes will continue to grow.
Flexiss, which operates a number of public-facing self-storage brands, has a proven track record working with institutional investors. The self-storage specialist uses built-in state-of-the-art technology, whilst embedding its focus on innovation, sustainability and responsibility, to target net zero carbon operating targets across its sites.
Flexiss’s management of the Self Storage Company’s assets will extend its portfolio of self-storage facilities to 15 with a collective area of more than 750,000 sq ft, and a planning and construction pipeline likely to extend this further.
Jessica Berney, Fund Manager for SREF, Schroders Capital, comments: “In 2017 we saw real opportunity in entering the self-storage sector on the back of demographic fundamentals; how people, especially in urban environments, are changing the way they are living and working, as well as seeking temporary and medium-term storage whether for personal or business use.
“We maintain that this sub-market has further growth prospects ahead and want to ensure our Self Storage Company portfolio is in the best position to capitalise, just as we continue to consider opportunities to grow our exposure to self-storage as a fund. Flexiss’s technological capabilities are second to none and we believe their appointment will enhance our portfolio so that our facilities meets the ever-changing needs of our occupiers, and ensure we maximise opportunities for the fund and its investors.”
Mike Wilson CEO of Flexiss adds: “With our sophisticated technology platform that provides the end user with far greater ease of use and access, along with decades of experience in this sector having developed and consulted on over 100 self-storage facilities across Europe, we are confident we can further enhance SREF’s self-storage portfolio. We are delighted to have secured this appointment.”
