• Contemporary service design needs to attract loyal tenants (be:here Hayes)
• Renters increasingly looking for wide-ranging services and amenities
• Pet-friendly homes with no fees, 3-year tenancies & on-site concierge shaping the future of rental sector in London

With private renters outnumbering homeowners in London, competition is fierce from landlords looking to attract loyal tenants.

The average age of a first-time buyer is now 30, according to Halifax, with property prices in the capital meaning that many of those who rent there may well be much older than this before they can afford to get a foot onto the first rung of the housing ladder. As such, there is an unprecedented opportunity for rental developments to shape their services to attract and maintain long-term tenants.

be:here Hayes is a shining example of this. The company’s 119 homes, just 300 yards from Hayes &Harlington station (a Crossrail station from 2019), provide a host of benefits that are turning renters’ heads and causing them to view The Gatefold Building as the model for future rental homes.

The company starts by appealing to renters’ wallets, with no agency, admin or referencing fees and lower deposits (just one month’s rent – in London!). It also includes free, super-fast 30 mbps broadband for all tenants.

Everything at Gatefold is managed start to finish by the local Hayes team.

The on-site concierge and management team are available to assist residents with a range of matters, from shopping deliveries, booking taxis through to maintenance and repairs.

Be have invested for the long term and want their residents to do the same. They offer flexible long term tenancies, initially up to 3 years.

Security comes next with 3-year tenancies now available at the multi award-winning development offering residents peace of mind. Followed by services

Next, be:here Hayes takes care of the social aspect. The sharer-friendly accommodation provides regular events in order to enable residents to get to know one another. With the Campaign to End Loneliness reporting that loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26% as we age, life at the Gatefold Buildings embraces all that community life has to offer.

“As the number of renters continues to increase, landlords must evolve their offering if they are to provide developments that are viable over the longer term. Modern tenants expect far more than those of years gone by – they want superb homes with good services and additional amenities that enable them to live a modern, urban lifestyle.”

 Hayley Wills, Area Manager,be:here Hayes

Renting from a build-to-rent provider like be:here Hayes, rather than an old-fashioned private landlord, comes with other benefits too. The company’s apartments are furnished by Habitat and pet-friendly, for example – a long way from the shabby, second hand furnishings and ‘no pets’ rules that old-school rental accommodation still tries to get away with.

Developers must continually up their game if they are to remain competitive. At the Gatefold Building, for example, the on-site team is in the process of installing Laundry Republic lockers. Tenants will be able to have their dry cleaning taken care of without being home for the collection or delivery times – and without having to set foot inside a dry cleaner’s.

Pet-friendly homes with no fees, 3-year tenancies & on-site concierge shaping the future of rental sector in London

 “The face of rental accommodation is changing. Old-fashioned landlord practices and attitudes have no place in the modern marketplace. Landlords that don’t appreciate that fact will soon find themselves left behind.”

 Hayley Wills, Area Manager, be:here Hayes

 Spacious apartments at be:here Hayes are available from £1,270 pcm for one bedroom and from £1,450 for two. Either a garden or a balcony is provided with every home.