A build-to-rent development in Canberra's north has started taking applicants for tenants for more than 100 apartments.
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All of the 107 apartments at the Marquee development in Amaroo would be rented out with the developer to retain ownership of all the units.
As well, tenants would receive four weeks' free rent under a one-year lease agreement and eight weeks for a two-year agreement.
Independent managing director of property management Hannah Gill said the developer made the decision to offer free rent due to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
"Seeing what is going on at the moment and recognising that there's people having a pretty challenging time with everything, the developer basically looked to offer for a year-long tenancy a four-week free rent period," she said.
"To really reinforce that security and long-term tenure as a feature of this offering for a two-year lease tenants will get eight weeks free rent."
Under a build-to-rent model none of the apartments are for sale, rather they are all intended to be rented out on a long-term basis.
This is one of the first fully build-to-rent developments to be built in Canberra, other than student accommodation or social housing.
Ms Gill said 17 applicants had so far been approved for units, which are a combination of studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms. According to listings on Allhomes apartments range in price from $360 to $490 a week.
Marquee will also have an Aldi and other commercial and retail offerings on the ground floor.
Apartments would be ready to move into from early-June.
"The free rent offer is really attractive to people, I think the location is attractive to people but also the developer is quite open to pets as well," Ms Gill said.
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Ms Gill said given Canberra's tight rental market, she would like more developments to follow suit.
"In Canberra, there's the obvious issue around affordability and supply of rental stock and so it's a smart business move and a smart business model but it's also a really important social conversation around how we can contribute more housing to the community," she said.
"I think it's a really great initiative and I would love to see more of it happening in the capital."