While the coronavirus pandemic has affected many areas of people's lives, often not in a positive way, one development that has been embraced by many of us in the UK is the increased use of online shopping and services options. This has escalated the rate at which mainly online retailers are growing and also, the rate at which some bricks and mortar retailers are losing business. Amid this development and the continued lack of residential homes in the right areas across the UK, the government has launched an unexpected consultation on the conversion of retail units into residential homes in England.

As the UK's lettings industry picks its way through coronavirus-induced problems, it appears the global pandemic isn't enough to discourage new entrants to the market. John Lewis has announced plans to invest in build-to-rent on a number of its existing land sites, while Czech proptech firm Flatio has made an investment into what it calls mid-term renting in the UK.