Canberra has officially welcomed its first purpose-built, build-to-rent (BTR) tower with the opening of Amalgamated Property Group and Base Development’s Oaks Canopy residence in Phillip, constructed by Milin Builders.

Oaks Canopy is Canberra’s first owned and operated Build To Rent residence and leasing interest in the studio, one and two-bedroom apartments has been strong with the first of many leases already signed.

In realisation of their long-term vision, Amalgamated Property Group has formed a dedicated onsite management team at Oaks Canopy. Oaks’ leasing team are carefully managing the release of the 150 apartments in a personalised manner, helping each potential tenant identify the right home within the tower, to match their needs and budget. This tailored approach will also allow prospective tenants stronger opportunity to form communities and neighbourly relationships, adding to the personal service touch the Amalgamated Property Group promises to deliver.

Daniel Potts, Development Manager for Amalgamated, said "We are excited to be opening our latest development Oaks Canopy, and our first BTR community which we have been working on for over five years. It's a significant achievement for our business, as we're now able to offer quality rental apartments that match the quality of the units we have been delivering to market for over 20 years. We see great potential in what BTR can do to improve multi-unit living and better support the needs of renters.

“Canopy has been purpose-built with our future customers in mind to hopefully enhance their every-day life. Through a list of bespoke services and an emphasis on creating 'community' we hope this new rental environment will redefine the rental experience for Canberrans.

“We’ve been pleased with the interest thus far and have seen plenty of demand from Defence communities, young corporates, health and government workers in the area and also people relocating to Canberra from interstate. The furnished apartments are proving popular, alongside a small number of serviced apartments, which will hopefully be useful for visiting family/friends as well as being attractive for corporate short-stays."

Purpose built for tenants, Oaks Canopy features 150 studio, one and two-bedroom apartments across 14-storeys, which are designed to deliver a premium service, style and amenity focused rental experience that includes everything from hotel-like concierge services, gym access and an exclusive business centre to recreational spaces that foster a sense of community. As part of the complex, residents can also enjoy the convenience of an in-house cafe, children’s outdoor play area, and entertaining spaces including a sports lounge and garden pavilion.

Sustainability has been addressed with waste strategies, communal gardens and re-use initiatives, while all electric systems have been installed in place of gas.

Changing the concept of renting, Oaks Canopy is designed for tenants looking for a more bespoke rental experience and one that gives them more choice. With the priorities of the tenant in mind, as part of Oaks Canopy, Amalgamated is offering customised options such as furniture packages, optional additional car parking and storage so tenants only pay for what they need.

Giving tenants more choice coupled with a quality home and a stronger sense of security in their living situation are some of the unique benefits of Amalgamated’s BTR model.

Amalgamated has a strong commitment to ensuring positive tenant and landlord relationships and will maintain management of Oaks Canopy as the landlord, the property manager and the maintenance manager – this is a core point of difference, as they have structured their own operational company to enable professional management and future growth. The team will leverage the experience of their facilities arm, Amalgamated Facilities Group, to deliver prompt and effective maintenance services. And while this is Amalgamated’s first foray into the rental arena, the Group plans to expand this product offering across the ACT and in other locations around Australia.

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