Assessing the social impact of build-to-rent development  

Clients: Get Living, Greystar, Long Harbour/Way of Life  

Project type: Post-occupancy evaluation  

Project partners: British Property Federation Association for Rental Living 

Number of sites: 3  

Locations: East Village (Stratford), Greenford Quay (Ealing), The Gessner (Haringey) 

Timeline: November 2023 to September 2024

Project report: Assessing the social impact of build to rent development on residents and communities

This project was carried out by the Quality of Life Foundation, led by a team whose expertise continues today through Quality of Life Futures.

What was the project?

This project was a post-occupancy evaluation focused on a particular housing typology:  build-to-rent multi family accommodation. The project aimed to build on the evidence base  for the social impact of build-to-rent (BTR) developments, both for residents living in these  developments and for the wider communities around them. We set out to:  

  • Demonstrate the social value of BTR by assessing outcomes using the Quality of Life Framework 
  • Capture residents’ lived experiences to provide insights into opportunities presented by this sector and where improvements could be made 
  • Generate robust evidence to support policy decisions at local and national level.
  • Provide practical learning for developers, operators and investors about the impact and future potential of BTR.

What did we do?

We carried out a series of resident and community evaluations across three BTR  developments in London in summer 2024. These evaluations drew on feedback from 297 people, 101 of whom were members of the wider communities around the developments. Each of the three schemes represented different approaches to BTR development, in terms of scale, location, amenities and context.  

The research revealed how BTR can positively influence health and wellbeing and contribute to stronger local communities. By evaluating these impacts through the Quality of Life Framework, we were able to provide insights and recommendations relevant to both  the sector and policymakers.  

How did we do it?

Research 

We began with desk research to understand each development in context. This included  analysing local socio-economic and census data, as well as mapping amenities, social  infrastructure and facilities within a 15-minute walking radius of each development.  

This localised ‘15-minute neighbourhood’ catchment area helped us identify community organisations and stakeholders and allowed us to explore how residents and the wider community experienced the development in their daily lives.  

Outreach and engagement  

We used a bespoke outreach strategy for each site, reflecting differences in scale, resident profile and local context. All engagement was heavily influenced by the eight principles of our Code of Practice for Community Consultation and Engagement.  

We delivered digital surveys and in-person pop-ups to reach both residents and the wider community. We hosted two in-person engagement events per site, supported by door-knocking, leaflet drops and attendance at local community events.  

Analysis and synthesis  

We analysed the survey responses structured around the six themes of the Quality of Life  Framework. For residents, we evaluated their feedback in detail across each theme; for the wider community, we drew out key qualitative insights, with a focus on comparisons between perceptions inside and outside each development. 

We developed a sector-wide report that shared our aggregated findings across the sites, to offer the sector insights and learning from these evaluations. Each participating site also received a bespoke report to inform future decision-making and continuous improvement. We also provided community feedback reports for each of the sites, to ensure we closed  the feedback loop.

Front cover of Social Impact of Build to Rent report

What was the impact?

This project provided a strong foundation for ongoing learning and improvement across the  BTR sector. It demonstrated that BTR can positively impact residents’ health and wellbeing  and contribute to wider community benefit, when quality, stewardship and engagement are  prioritised.  

The project identified areas for improvement and highlighted opportunities for the sector to  lead the way in providing homes and neighbourhoods that deliver for people’s health and wellbeing. 

The research also contributes to a more consistent approach to measuring social value in  housing. We believe the insights and methodology developed through this project could be the basis for a standardised approach to evaluating lived experience in BTR and other housing types.  

This work ultimately helps strengthen the case for more socially and environmentally sustainable housing that genuinely supports long-term quality of life.  

What did they say?

“We really enjoyed working with the Quality of Life Foundation on this groundbreaking  research into the social impact of build-to-rent developments. Their independence, credibility, and hands-on experience with residents made them an invaluable partner.  

“This first-of-its-kind report gave the sector an important opportunity to take a step back, critically assess its developments, and set clear benchmarks and recommendations for the future.” Theo Plowman, Assistant Director at the British Property Federation