City living is not cheap and we’re all looking for handy ways to make our money go the extra mile these days – which is why the build-to-rent lifestyle is such a saving grace.

These modern neighbourhoods feature a range of amenities in your monthly rental payments, such as gyms, fitness classes, co-working spaces and more.

Bridget, 29, works in procurement and commutes into central London each day, but her partner, Khari, works from home, so they needed to find a rental apartment with good transport links and plenty of living space.

“We chose to move to East Village’s Portlands Place in Stratford to make use of its large co-working space so Khari could work from home. Plus, it’s super-convenient for me to commute into work at Bank because it only takes 30 minutes door to door,” she tells Stylist.

For Yasmin, 24, who’s currently studying at the University of Coventry’s London campus, she finds it easier to prioritise her health and wellness by living in a build-to-rent neighbourhood.

“One of the reasons I chose to move to Elephant Central in Elephant & Castle was because there are weekly fitness classes tailored to residents on-site, which is a big win for me.”

Essentially, who needs to venture outside again? Dreamy. 

The biggest tip for renting in 2024? Do a little more sleuthing to find a flexible contract that works for you.

Gone are the days of 12-month-only leases with mammoth up-front costs. Build-to-rent neighbourhoods are not only revolutionising the way we live, but the way we spend our money (ie, wisely).

“We offer longer three-year leases if you want peace of mind or six-month break clauses where only residents can break the contract,” says Roper.

“This is important, as flexible contracts mean you can upsize or downsize when you feel like it and you’re not tied down to a long-term financial commitment if you don’t want to be.”

Look for flexible monthly payments, lower up-front costs and wifi-included rental payments – all of which Get Living neighbourhoods provide.

“If you’re fed up of moving house constantly, I’d definitely recommend the long-term tenancy option at Get Living, which we’ve opted for,” says Bridget.

“Buying isn’t an investment we’re ready to make and we’re not even sure where we’d want to establish ourselves at this point in our lives, so a flexible contract has been the best option for us.”

Is one of your renting bugbears the inability to truly make the space your own, or maybe you’d love to get a pet but can’t risk it? Think again.

Many build-to-rent neighbourhoods are now moving away from the traditional concept of renting and are starting to offer more personalised experiences. 

And in a cost-of-living crisis, with more of us renting for longer periods of time, this makes the world of difference to our wellbeing. 

Unlike private rentals, in Get Living neighbourhoods you’re able to personalise your space with fixtures, paint and furnishings to ensure your home feels like your own.

“These apartments offer the perfect backdrop for residents who want to add their own personal style,” says Roper.

“Whether it’s wall painting, hanging prints or putting up shelves, the in-house maintenance team are on hand to help with finishing touches or you can embrace your own DIY skills,” she says.

Plus, apartments are pet-friendly.

“We’re proud parents of Pippin, a King Charles pup, and one of the main reasons we chose to live in a Get Living neighbourhood is its pet-friendly policy,” says Rachel, 29, who’s an assistant merchandiser at a company in Shoreditch.

“The location is also great, so we have amazing parks within walking distance to take the dog on regular walks.” 

“I’ve gone the traditional route when renting before and faced the usual chaotic challenges,” says Rachel.

“Once our fridge broke and it took weeks for our landlord to get it fixed, so we spent our lives ordering food in and wasting a lot of money…”

If you can feel some trauma resurfacing, it might be worth checking out a build-to-rent neighbourhood. All homes are energy-efficient new-builds and there are on-site maintenance teams to fix any issues, ASAP.

“You don’t have to worry about a landlord who won’t call you back,” says Roper. “The on-site maintenance teams in Get Living neighbourhoods are on-hand Monday to Friday and offer a completely free service. They’ll contact you same day to book in your request.

“You also have your own dedicated resident manager who you can contact for any queries or questions during your tenancy.”

Big cities can sometimes be lonely. So finding a neighbourhood that truly feels like home should be a priority. 

With build-to-rent neighbourhoods, the emphasis is on community, says Roper.

“Regular resident events are a key part of bringing the neighbourhood together. And that could be anything, from a wine and cheese tasting night to a tiramisu-making class or neighbourhood summer fetes and Christmas lights switch-ons,” she tells Stylist.

“The Get Living team puts on an inclusive programme of events to help you foster connections with your neighbours – and you can go to as many or as few events as you like.”