Residents in Build-to-Rent homes more satisfied with homes but feel less safe at night

Guided by the Quality of Life framework, the report covers six themes essential to creating happier and healthier neighbourhoods, including sense of control, health equity, connection to nature, a sense of wonder, getting around with ease and connected communities. Insight was drawn from qualitative and quantitative feedback and engagement.  

Over 50% of wider communities felt that living near a BTR development gives them easier access to leisure amenities from their home by maintaining the provisions of high quality communal and public spaces supported by host events. Staff and organisers provide a strengthened community through markets, youth events and leisure amenities.

This coincides with providing high-quality play spaces for children and young people and delivering high-quality blue and green infrastructure spaces as health assets. The schemes also score highly for walkability and cycling with 90.3% of residents feeling that that area is a good place to walk or wheel compared to 69% national average. 

But less than half of residents felt that their area was clean and free from noise and light pollution. This is a primary concern on the sites with noise being the second most harmful environmental stressor in Europe. The negative social impact of such stress can cause critical health issues.

Residents are also concerned with the thermal performance of their homes. Whilst the homes are warm during winter, 40.4% feedback that their homes are not prepared for more hot summers.

Affordability is another key concern. Asked about their rent, over half of respondents said their rent was unaffordable, with 10% stating rent is "completely unaffordable (I’m living from paycheck to paycheck)". 

In addition, residents would like more affordable cafes, shops and supermarkets. “The lack of a large Sainsbury’s or Morrisons or Tesco does affect shopping, and healthier food options are limited,” comments one of the residents, Male, 35-39 years old.

Led by Hani Salih, the report helps to understand the overall social impact of BTR schemes and the aims that must be achieved to provide healthy and comfortable living conditions for all.

“BTR presents a unique opportunity to raise the bar, offering professionally managed, high-quality housing that can set new standards across the market. But BTR’s true potential lies in its ability to go further – to connect housing with health, wellbeing, and the broader social fabric,” highlights Theo Plowman, Assistant Director, British Property Federation.

The Quality of Life Foundation is one standard seeking to measure wellbeing as part of a renewed drive to increase living standards and ensure health is restored as an integral metric of success in built environment policy. 

Find out more Matthew Morgan, Director and Co-Founder, Quality of Life Foundation will be presenting the findings of this report at Festival of Place: Social Impact.