Real estate firm JLL’s Australian Capital Markets business has appointed Jack Bergin as the Head of Living in Australia.
Relocating to Australia from the firm’s London base where he had been a Director in the JLL UK Living Capital Markets team since 2019, Jack will be responsible for expanding JLL’s service offering across the Living Sectors including Build to Rent, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), co-living and seniors living housing.
During his time in London, Jack advised across a range of transactions including investment sales, forward purchases, and fund through structures.
“The long-term market fundamentals including migration growth, return of students post Covid and the ongoing supply demand imbalance for good quality housing are all supportive of further investment into Living Sectors, drawing on learnings from more established markets abroad. We are looking forward to supporting further growth in the sector across Australia and New Zealand.”
Jack Bergin, Head of Living in Australia, JLL
In his new role, Jack will work alongside JLL’s Living Sector specialist Tommy Christian within the Capital Markets team.
As the company grows its reputation in the Living sectors, JLL transacted the Student One student accommodation portfolio in Brisbane in a deal worth over $500m, and advised Lendlease on its partnership with Daiwa House on its Build to Rent development at Melbourne Quarter.
“Jack has developed first-hand experience advising clients on Build to Rent acquisitions and disposals of single assets and portfolios across the UK, covering apartment led multifamily and single-family housing. His experience will provide our clients with a unique insight into emerging market trends, investor activity and transaction structuring to drive market leading outcomes.”
Luke Billiau, Head of Capital Markets – Australia and New Zealand, JLL
The appointment reflects the growing appetite from investors looking to deploy capital into the emerging Living Sectors, particularly Build to Rent.
This was demonstrated in JLL’s recently published ‘Build to Rent September 2023’ report, which found that the number of Build to Rent apartments under construction and due in 2024 was expected to exceed 4,000 (which is roughly the number of currently operational Build to Rent apartments), and over 7,500 are in various stages of the planning and construction and due in 2025.
