Renting reinvented at Home Southbank

There are few things more synonymous with Southbank than cranes in the sky.

New development is one of the key pillars of life in postcode 3006. So much so, it’s often easy to dismiss a new building as just that, another new building.

There is, however, a new building in Southbank that is likely to set a new precedent for development in Melbourne.

The newly-opened Home Southbank at 260 City Rd is the city’s first premium build-to-rent (BTR) development, offering residents hotel-inspired services, state-of-the-art amenities, and bespoke community comfort.

Head of Home, Christian Grahame, told Southbank News he expected this building to be the catalyst for future BTR design and development in this country.

“Home Southbank is the first of its kind for Melbourne and we have set the bar high. Once the community has had the opportunity to experience a building that has been specifically designed and managed for renters, I think popularity for this type of development will grow exponentially,” Mr Grahame said.

“We’ve considered each element to make life easier for our community. Whether it’s the little things like taking care of the dry cleaning, or the big things like reducing your environmental footprint, Home is here to reinvent renting for Australians.”

“We know there a number of groups who are watching us closely, studying our design and service model and are considering similar types of buildings in Melbourne.”

The 59-level building features 403 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with access to sky-high private dining experiences, extensive co-working facilities that are well-equipped for the post-pandemic era of “work-from-home”, in addition to luxurious “add on” services such as a Tesla carshare powered by Origin 360 EV, apartment cleaning, fitness classes, personal training and pet care services.

Following in the footsteps of Londoners and New Yorkers, where the BTR model is already a popular phenomenon, in fact, it is the second largest institutional real estate class in America.

According to Mr Grahame, at Home, you can paint your walls and bring your pets, to make Home feel like your very own sanctuary.

Alongside the freedom to personalise your space, Home’s BTR model affords residents more flexibility and choice, and greater security of tenure than a normal lease.

“We’ve taken inspiration from thriving BTR communities from around the world to create something that is tailored to the Australian market, and bespoke to each of our six forthcoming Home locations, which are spotted across some of Melbourne and Sydney’s most highly sought-after suburbs,” Mr Grahame said.

“One of the many things that drew us to the BTR asset class was how naturally this model lends itself to the creation of tightknit apartment communities. This neighbourhood experience is something we’re excited to watch grow through Home Southbank’s ongoing calendar of events and exclusive resident experiences.”

“Although our design is specifically for our renters, it is also to hold for the long term. In that way we have been able to invest in the design and quality of the building, not just because it is important for our residents, but also so we have an enduring building that will stand the test of time and add to the community.”

Mr Grahame said the brick street-front façade design, led by architecture firm Bates Smart, had been carefully approached to mirror nearby heritage buildings like the Boyd Community Hub and Robur Tea House on Clarendon St.

“We’re at a cornerstone of making real change in the Australian housing and rental market, and we want to thank our supporters, collaborators and partners in bringing, this first of its kind exclusive rental community to Melbourne,” Mr Grahame said.

“We’re seeing a lot of interest from inner city types, both single and couples, as well as interstaters looking for a move to Melbourne to embrace all that Southbank and the Arts Precinct has to offer.”

“The consumer is attracted to the world class amenities, and extensive range of luxurious add on services available to all residents. Home offers a hotel-inspired lifestyle experience which you can’t get anywhere else.”  •

For more information: homeapartments.com.au

Caption: Home Southbank cutting edge interiors and amenities. Photo: Supplied.