JLL’s Australian Capital Markets business has appointed Jack Bergin as the Head of Living in Australia.

Head of Capital Markets – Australia and New Zealand Luke Billiau said Jack has recently relocated from London where he had been a Director in the JLL UK Living Capital Markets team since 2019. 

As Head of Living, Jack will be responsible for expanding JLL’s service offering across the Living Sectors including Build-to-Rent (BTR), Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), co-living and seniors living housing.

“Jack has developed first-hand experience advising clients on BTR 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,” Mr Billiau said.

Jack joined JLL London in 2019 where he specialised in the UK BTR sector. During this period he advised across a range of transactions including investment sales, forward purchases and fund through structures.

JLL has developed a strong reputation within the Living Sectors in recent times, having transacted the Student One student accommodation portfolio in Brisbane in a deal worth more than $500 million and advised Lendlease on its partnership with Daiwa House on its BTR project at Melbourne Quarter. 

Mr Billiau said Jack will work together with Tommy Christian, JLL’s Living Sector specialist working within the Capital Markets team.

This appointment reflects the growing appetite from investors looking to deploy capital into the emerging Living Sectors, particularly BTR. This was demonstrated in JLL’s recently published Build-to-Rent September 2023 report which found the number of BTR apartments under construction and due in 2024 was expected to exceed 4,000 (which is roughly the number of currently operational BTR apartments) and more than 7,500 are in various stages of the planning and construction and due in 2025.

Mr Bergin said, “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,” Mr Bergin said.