Promoting wellbeing and mental health in build-to-rent
- Go back
- 16th Mar 21
This last year has put our homes under the spotlight like never before. A year spent inside has not just highlighted differences in trends such as interior design, it has also brought to the forefront how important our surroundings are in terms of mental health.
Customer focus
Build-to-rent (BTR) is a growing sector of the residential market. At the centre of its service is the customer experience, with many developers looking to focus on health and wellbeing to make themselves stand out from the crowd. BTR developers understand that if you truly want to focus on the customer, then it is not just about delivering them a building to live in. People need communities to thrive, so creating developments that bring this to the forefront is really addressing the needs of tenants. You can view all of our developments here
How to deal with loneliness
The problem of loneliness has become a major issue for both younger and older people. In fact, the Government has gone so far to say that the UK is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic with a 2017 report citing that loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes per day in terms of its impact on health. We know that housing plays a key role in helping to combat the issues. Building developments can help build communities, particularly in city environments. Good design can create real connections, reduce loneliness and bring about positive change.
Community spirit
One of the unique aspects of BTR is the cross section of age groups residing in the accommodation. From students, to families to downsizers, social opportunities are encouraged with the design of the development. Chances to meet can be experienced in the design of the development. The opportunity to promote social interaction between residents can feature throughout the building including gyms, outdoor gardens, co-working spaces and even the entrance area. A friendly on-site team can also make a huge difference in bringing everyone together. It is not uncommon in the BTR sector to have an events team to organise social activities such as barbecues, screening of major sports events and Christmas parties, giving residents the chance to mingle and get to know their neighbours.
Encouraging fitness
Mental health is often linked to physical health and fitness. While it is not a cure, exercise is often cited as having a positive effect on wellbeing. Many BTR developments have a gym on site and many go one step further and think of ways to encourage residents to engage with exercise. With people leading busy lifestyles, it is not just enough to have a gym in the building if you want people to get fit. BTR developers have collaborated with health and fitness professionals to create health and wellbeing programmes for residents based on the tenant demographic. This can be anything from outdoor yoga studios or rooftop team sports. Activities that promote team work and fun to encourage community.
Good design
Interior design is much more than things just looking aesthetically pleasing. Good design plays a crucial part in a tenant’s wellbeing and can counteract feelings of stress and negativity. Some BTR developers are going one step further and giving over space to allow tenants to have ownership over certain areas to create murals on the walls for example. This in turn makes all residents feel more at home, which is likely to make them want to stay longer and recommend to their friends.
Healthier homes
For tenants living in busy city centres, BTR developers understand that their needs are going to be unique to their environments. The 24/7 lifestyle might be fun but the flipside is there are burnout issues. When planning new schemes, developers today are looking at ways in which to improve the quality of life. This can include anything from ensuring there is plenty of greenery around the development, an allotment on the roof or improved air quality control. Developers are also looking at wider issues of concern, including cycle paths and fast food-free zones near schools.
How to promote wellness at home
- Create a relaxing nook that’s a screen-free zone.
- Open windows as much as possible to create good air flow.
- Keep your home as clutter-free as possible by regular sorting out sessions.
- Create an exercise space to encourage fitness sessions or yoga.
- Add some relaxing aromas to your home with candles or diffusers.
- Eliminate allergens, toxins and germs with regular cleaning.
- Open the blinds to let in the light and place furniture to make the most of natural sunlight.
- Add indoor plants throughout the home to bring the outside in.