Build to Rent: What is it and how does it work?

With approximately 30% of Australians renting and a chronic shortage of rental accommodation, the rental market was ready for a reset. Fast forward to today, where Build to Rent is redefining the rental experience. For the first time, renting is truly being built around you, offering unparalleled customer service, security, flexibility, and community like never before.  

Let’s unpack what Build to Rent is, how it works, and why it’s becoming such a popular option in our urban centres. 

What is Build to Rent? A smarter way to rent 

Unlike traditional apartment rentals, typically owned by individual investors, Build to Rent properties usually remain in the hands of a single owner and are professionally managed. This means high-quality onsite management, stable and secure rental agreements, and a renter-first approach. 

Designed (literally) from the ground up to provide a better experience for residents, Build to Rent offers all the flexibility and homeliness of a place to call your own plus access to shared spaces and the sense of belonging to a community of like-minded individuals. 

Most Build to Rent developments are purpose-built, ensuring that the layout, design, and facilities cater to modern renters' needs. You can personalise your space, proudly show off your pets, and socialise in the impressive, shared spaces*. 

Quality Build to Rent developments in Sydney and Melbourne often incorporate smart home technology, sustainable building practices, and high-end security features. These features make them attractive not only to young professionals and families but also for downsizers and retirees who are looking for a hassle-free lifestyle. 

Why is Build to Rent a great option for modern Australians? 

1. More stability, more freedom

Traditional rentals can come with much more uncertainty than the Build to Rent alternative, especially as leases end or if landlords sell unexpectedly, as tenants might find themselves unexpectedly relocating. This instability can disrupt work, schooling, and social networks, making it difficult to lay down roots in any one community.

With Build to Rent you're able to have a longer lease, residents can easily renew, and moving within the same complex is often an option. It’s renting, with security, stability and peace of mind.

For many renters, this opens up new possibilities. It allows individuals and families to plan their lives with confidence. Plus, the ability to stay within the same complex while upsizing (or downsizing!) your apartment, means residents can adapt their living situation without uprooting their lives. 

2. Luxury living without the commitment 

Many Build to Rent developments in Sydney, Melbourne and beyond feature high-end amenities that would be very expensive to offer in a standalone property, including: 

• rooftop lounges

• wellness facilities (like a spa, sauna, pool or gym fitness centres)

• co-working spaces and meeting rooms 

• onsite concierge services

• pet-friendly zones

• parcel lockers

• bike storage 

Residents can enjoy these perks with no maintenance worries or ownership burdens.  

For young professionals especially, these amenities can significantly enhance work-life balance. Co-working spaces and meeting rooms provide an ideal flexible working environment, while fitness centres and communal areas encourage a healthy and active lifestyle. 

Families too can benefit from Build to Rent living. Many developments include playgrounds, and family-friendly communal spaces that cater to parents and children alike. 

3. A true community experience

Unlike apartment buildings with fragmented ownership where tenants may not interact, Build to Rent complexes are designed for connection and convenience. Shared gardens, resident events, co-working spaces, and social hubs create a sense of belonging.

Build to Rent providers often organise community events such as BBQs, fitness classes, and social nights. These initiatives foster a strong sense of community, helping residents form friendships and support networks, enriching their wellbeing. This level of engagement is often missing in traditional rental properties, where tenants may never even meet or interact with their neighbours.

Additionally, professional landlords offer on-site residential services where issues such as maintenance requests, security concerns and communal space management are handled efficiently. There’s better maintenance and faster response times to requests, which can lead to higher resident satisfaction levels. This creates a seamless living experience where residents feel valued and supported. Build to Rent spaces are not just another apartment or place to live; they provide a lifestyle experience.

 4. Flexibility to fit your life 

Need a bigger space? Move to a larger unit within the same building without the hassle of finding a new place. 

Need a smaller space? Retirees or anyone looking to downsize can opt for a smaller space without leaving their established community.

Relocating for work? Some Build to Rent providers like Indi allow transfers between buildings in the same city or between different cities like Sydney and Melbourne.

Build to Rent is a model especially designed to adapt to your needs, not restrict them. Instead of dealing with the stress of breaking a lease or searching for a new rental, you can simply transfer within the same Build to Rent network. 

How Build to Rent benefits everyone 

1. Part of the solution to Australia’s housing challenges

Build to Rent isn’t just about providing a premium lifestyle for residents, it’s also helping to increase rental supply in a tight housing market, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.  

2. A more sustainable way to live

Sustainability is a core principle of many Build to Rent projects with developers incorporating solar panels, water-saving technologies, EV charging infrastructure or eco-friendly materials to help minimise environmental impact. Additionally, many Build to Rent properties feature bike storage, and are in close proximity to public transport, cycling and pedestrian pathways, promoting greener urban living.

Build to Rent developments are built for longevity and with the future in mind, meaning higher energy efficiency, better sustainability measures, and smarter urban planning.  

Some projects, like  ours at Indi Southbank, are fully electric with all common areas powered by 100% renewable electricity. Indi Southbank has a 7-Star NatHERS Energy Rating and a 5-Star Green Star Design V1.3 rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, and is now targeting a 5-Star Green Star As Built V1.3 rating.

Indi Sydney residents have access to a sustainability toolkit available on the resident app. The toolkit is full of useful tips, with each section focusing on a key aspect of sustainable living, including environmental living, transport, healthy living and community engagement. 

Build to Rent isn’t just the future, it’s YOUR future

Build to Rent represents the evolution of housing beyond traditional renting. It puts residents first, fosters strong communities, and delivers a superior rental experience.

For those who want luxury living without a mortgage, flexibility to live life on your terms, and a thriving community at your doorstep, Build to Rent is the answer. 

Start your Build to Rent journey at Indi… and live life on your terms. 

Imagine a whole new way of renting that’s built around you. That embraces your quirks, celebrates your style, honours your routine, fills your cup, feeds your soul, and – importantly – doesn’t frown upon hanging a few paintings.

That’s Indi – apartment living that lets you express yourself, art on the walls or not.

Indi is Investa’s  Build to Rent platform, offering high-quality, community-driven living spaces designed for modern renters. Explore our Build to Rent communities at Indi Sydney, Indi Southbank and Indi Footscray to see how renting can be built around you. 

Visit our website to learn more and find your next home today! 

 
*Apartment modifications are subject to approval, additional terms and conditions apply. Pets are subject to approval.