Kajima Launches BTR Investment Platform in Australia with Pro-invest Group

Kajima Australia, the local subsidiary of Kajima Corporation, has launched a new build-to-rent (BTR) investment platform in partnership with Pro-invest Group, a real estate investment and operating company based in Australia. The initial investment totals approximately JPY 50 billion, with plans to expand the platform to around JPY 150 billion over the next five years.

As its first project, the platform will develop a BTR property with approximately 300 units in central Sydney. With strong population growth driven by immigration and an acute housing shortage, the platform aims to capitalize on the tightening rental market and generate stable rental income.

Kajima entered the Australian market in earnest in 2015 through its investment in mid-tier contractor Icon Co. In 2024, the company further expanded its local footprint by partnering with Elanor Investors Group to launch a logistics development platform valued at AUD 250 million. The current move into the BTR sector marks Kajima’s next step in establishing a new revenue pillar within residential real estate.

Founded in 2010, Pro-invest Group manages 32 hotels totaling approximately 6,000 rooms across Australia and New Zealand, with assets under management of around AUD 3 billion. Leveraging its expertise in ESG implementation and revenue management from the hospitality sector, Pro-invest plans to handle all aspects of the BTR business—from development to operations—under an integrated structure.

The fund will seek commitments from both domestic and international investors, including pensions, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds, including those based in Japan. The platform is positioned to address both housing supply constraints and investors’ demand for long-term, stable returns. Future expansion is expected to include major cities such as Melbourne and Brisbane.