Australian arm of Sentinel Real Estate – Sentinel Fund Manager Australia (Sentinel Australia) – is celebrating five years of operations at The Elements by Kinleaf Build to Rent development in Subiaco, Perth. The scheme is being operated by Sentinel Australia’s property management brand Kinleaf.
The Elements comprises one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with various floor plans. Residents benefit from on-site property management and maintenance teams and amenities, including rooftop terraces, two swimming pools, a fitness centre, a movement studio, and resident lounges.
The development launched in two phases, with Phase One reaching full occupancy in 2020 and maintaining close to 100% leasing levels since. Phase Two opened in 2022 and has seen similar success, achieving a lease renewal rate of 71% across both phases (173 units) since stabilisation.
“When Sentinel purchased its first development sites in Australia, the local Build to Rent sector was virtually non-existent so with The Elements, we had a unique opportunity to pioneer the first purpose-built, institutional-quality rental asset in the country.
“Since that time, it has been encouraging to see the growth of the sector and, to a greater extent in recent years, the increased understanding and adoption of the housing model by Australians.
“Across our operating communities in Perth and Melbourne, we see and hear that our residents appreciate the housing choice and lifestyle opportunities that living in a Build to Rent property offers them.
“Compelling leasing results, high resident-retention rates and the positive resident feedback garnered at The Elements sets a strong benchmark for the sector and gives us great confidence in the future of the asset class as it enters its next phase of growth to maturity.
“We will continue to apply insights and learnings from our operational experience to enhance the delivery and operation of the next phase of our pipeline in Australia – rental communities which are well-located, well-designed, sustainable, flexible and ultimately great places to live.”
Michael Streicker, President and Director, Sentinel Fund Manager Australia
Since 2020, over 1,000 residents have lived at The Elements, representing a mix of household types. Around 50% have had pets, and approximately 100 referrals have come from existing residents recommending the community to prospective tenants.
Additionally, 34 residents have opted to move within the building, adjusting their apartment size or layout based on their needs.
With five years of strong performance, The Elements also set a sustainability benchmark as Australia’s first carbon-neutral certified apartment building. Sentinel Australia worked with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and Climate Active to establish a certification methodology tailored to the Build to Rent sector’s long-term energy efficiency potential.
The development has an average 8-star NatHERS rating and a 5-Star Green Star rating from the GBCA.
Sustainable features include energy-efficient appliances, solar panels for common areas, LED lighting, rainwater and greywater recycling systems, EV charging stations, embedded network metering, and a centralised geothermal system.
The on-site management team also organises social events and activities to foster community engagement.
