Author: Zara Bridle

CompassRock and Spike Launch Resident App Across Glass Bottle, as Part of Wider Portfolio Rollout in Ireland

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 24 September 2026

CompassRock has partnered with Spike to launch new white-labelled resident apps at Glass Bottle in Dublin, marking the first phase of a wider rollout set to support 952 homes across CompassRock’s portfolio in Ireland.

The partnership will see the technology introduced across further apartment communities in Compass Rock portfolio, with Alta Verde in Blackrock, a 246-home Build to Rent community, among those set to follow.

The app is now live at Glass Bottle, adding a digital layer to the resident experience and making it easier for residents to engage with both their building and the wider community around them.

Beyond simplifying everyday tasks, the platform will also support CompassRock’s wider approach to community building and placemaking. Events, activities and local initiatives can be shared directly with residents, helping onsite teams increase awareness and participation while giving residents more opportunities to make use of the spaces, amenities and experiences available around them.

This is particularly relevant at Glass Bottle, where the residential offering has been designed around shared spaces and community. Lime House and Sand House form part of the wider waterfront neighbourhood, with amenities including resident lounges, co-working areas, fitness and wellness facilities, rooftop spaces and areas designed for residents to meet and socialise.

For CompassRock’s onsite teams, the rollout is also designed to make managing the resident experience more efficient. By enabling residents to self-serve for routine information and requests, teams can reduce reliance on fragmented communication channels and spend more time focusing on the interactions that add value to the community. Communications, events, amenities, and resident requests can be managed through a more joined-up digital experience.

As the platform expands across CompassRock’s Irish portfolio, it will provide a scalable foundation for delivering a consistent standard of resident experience across developments, while still allowing each community to retain its own identity and approach to engagement.

“CompassRock has a clear ambition to create a more connected and seamless experience for their residents, and it’s great to see that vision being put into practice. Partnerships like this show how technology can play a much bigger role in strengthening both resident engagement and day-to-day operations. For Spike, it also marks an exciting step in our continued growth across Ireland, and we’re looking forward to building on that momentum together.”

Jeremy Heath-Smith, CEO at Spike

“At CompassRock, we want technology to make living in our communities simpler, more connected and more engaging. The launch at Glass Bottle gives residents an easier way to access services, stay informed and participate in community life, while enabling our onsite teams to provide a more responsive and consistent experience. As we introduce the platform across our Irish portfolio, following the product launch at Glass Bottle, we intend to scale across our Irish portfolio, incorporating the individual character of each community.”

Pierre Melhado, Head of Ireland at CompassRock

The rollout builds on CompassRock’s focus on creating high-quality rental communities that combine strong operations with resident experience and placemaking, while giving its teams a scalable platform to support communities as the portfolio continues to grow.

Insight

The Autumn Move-In Rush – Are You Onboarding Residents or Just Processing Tenancies?

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 14 September 2026

Autumn has always carried a sense of a fresh start.

New jobs begin. Students graduate and relocate. Families settle into new routines. Summer plans come to an end and moves that have been sitting on the to-do list suddenly become a priority.

For rental operators, that can make autumn an important period for new resident arrivals. But while plenty of attention goes into getting someone from enquiry to signed tenancy, what happens immediately after they choose to live with you deserves just as much focus.

Because a successful move-in isn’t simply about handing over the keys; it is the beginning of the resident relationship.

The First Few Weeks Set the Tone

Moving home is one of those moments when residents need a lot of information, often all at once.

How do I report a maintenance issue?

Where do parcels go? How do I book the gym?

Who do I contact if I have a question?

What events are happening?

Where can I find my documents?

For the operator, these may all be established processes. For somebody who moved in yesterday, everything is new.

The easier those first interactions are, the quicker a property can begin to feel like home.

That means thinking about onboarding as a resident journey, rather than an administrative checklist.

Welcome information should be easy to access. Important actions should be clear. Residents shouldn’t need to search through old emails, printed welcome packs or multiple systems simply to understand how their building works.

And, importantly, communication shouldn’t disappear once move-in day is complete.

Community Should Start Before Residents Have to Look for it

This is particularly relevant for people relocating to a new area.

Autumn moves can coincide with new jobs, new schools and people starting entirely new chapters of their lives. For many residents, the challenge isn’t simply finding a home; it is beginning to build a life around it.

That presents an opportunity for operators.

Rather than waiting for a resident to eventually discover the monthly social event or stumble across a community group, why not introduce those opportunities as part of onboarding?

Social opportunities should be visible and accessible from the beginning.

Someone moving alone for a new job might appreciate knowing there is a running club. A family might be interested in a weekend event. Someone working from home may want to know about co-working spaces or resident groups.

Don’t Let the Move-In Experience Become Operationally Heavy

There is another side to the autumn influx: scale.

A strong period of leasing can mean property teams are welcoming multiple residents while simultaneously managing existing resident requests, maintenance, communications, events and day-to-day operations.

And the rental market remains busy. Rightmove reported in its latest Q2 2026 Rental Trends Tracker that available rental supply had fallen below the previous year’s level for the first time since 2022, while average advertised rents reached new records both inside and outside London.

When teams are busy, fragmented onboarding processes quickly create unnecessary administration.

Repeated questions, manual welcome emails, missed information and residents contacting teams simply because they don’t know where to find something all add to the workload.

The more of that journey operators can make consistent and self-service, the more time teams have for the interactions that actually require a human touch.

Move-in should be the start of engagement, not the end of onboarding

Perhaps the biggest opportunity is to stop viewing onboarding as something that finishes once the resident has collected their keys. The first few weeks are the ideal time to introduce residents to how they can interact with their building and community throughout their tenancy.

At Spike, we help operators bring that journey into one place through a convenient resident app – from accessing important information and services to receiving communications, discovering events and joining forum channels or social groups.

But the technology is only the facilitator. The bigger question for operators heading into a busy autumn period is:

Once a Resident Has Moved in, How Quickly Are You Giving Them a Reason to Feel Part of Where They Live?

Because filling a home is one thing, turning a new address into somewhere a resident genuinely wants to stay is another.

Case Study

Life at Home by Hone, Made Simpler with the Hone Resident App

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 7 July 2026

At Home by Hone, everyday living is designed to feel clear, connected and easy to manage. Through the Hone Resident App, powered by Spike Living, residents have one simple place to stay informed, access support, book shared spaces and feel more connected to life in their building.

Home by Hone creates sensitively curated build-to-rent and co-living environments that combine privacy, connection and thoughtfully designed communal spaces. With a growing portfolio and further developments in the pipeline, the brand is focused on delivering a consistent resident experience across every location, while allowing each building to reflect the character of its neighbourhood.

The Hone Resident App plays an important role in supporting that experience. It brings key resident services, building information and communication into one easy-to-use platform. From building updates and essential information to issue reporting, amenity bookings and resident events, the app helps reduce friction and makes daily life easier to manage.

It also supports Hone’s focus on creating connected resident communities. Across its buildings, this includes shared amenity bookings and resident events inspired by residents’ hobbies, interests and local surroundings. Promoted through the app, these moments help residents stay involved in life at the building on their own terms.

For residents, the main benefit is convenience and clarity. Instead of searching through emails, making calls or contacting the on-site team for every query, residents can quickly access what they need, whether that is checking an announcement, finding building information, making a booking or raising an issue.

For Hone’s on-site teams, centralised updates, service requests and key information help reduce repeat questions and scattered messages. This gives teams a clearer way to keep residents informed, respond consistently and keep issues moving, while supporting the high standards of service that sit at the heart of the Hone experience.

As expectations around residential living continue to evolve, technology has an important role to play in creating experiences that feel seamless, connected and built around the resident.

The Hone Resident App reflects that vision, bringing digital convenience, communication and operational clarity together in one platform. By making everyday interactions easier to manage, it supports a more consistent resident journey and helps teams deliver the level of service modern communities expect.

We’re proud to support Hone as they continue to raise the standard for resident experience across their buildings.

Jeremy Heath-Smith, CEO at Spike

Hone’s wider approach is centred on creating places that feel like home, with a focus on residents, pets, neighbours and the planet. Its model combines human service, considered design, technology and slick operations to create residential environments that feel welcoming, thoughtful and easy to live in.

At Hone, we’re always looking at the small everyday touchpoints that shape how residents feel about where they live. The Hone Resident App helps us bring those moments together in a clearer, simpler way, whether that’s sharing updates, supporting amenity bookings, promoting resident events or helping someone raise an issue quickly.

For us, technology should never replace the human side of resident experience, but it can make it easier for people to feel informed, connected and supported. As we continue to grow, the app plays an important role in helping us deliver a consistent, high-quality resident experience across our buildings, while giving our on-site teams the structure they need to keep things moving smoothly behind the scenes.

Juliet Self, Operations & Customer Experience Director at Hone

As resident expectations continue to evolve, digital platforms are becoming an increasingly important part of how modern residential buildings operate. For Home by Hone, the Hone Resident App brings together the everyday touchpoints that shape resident satisfaction, from communication and convenience to community and support.

It is one part of a wider resident experience model built around reducing hassle, improving connection and creating places that people feel proud to call home.

Insight

Preparing for the New Student Influx: How Teams Can Make Move-In Seamless

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 16 June 2026

With the upcoming academic year now only a few months away, student accommodation teams are entering one of the busiest periods in the calendar.

From welcoming new students and reassuring parents, to supporting returning residents, managing move-in slots, sharing key information, organising events and keeping buildings running smoothly, the start of term brings a huge amount of pressure.

For many students, this is their first time living away from home. For international students, it may also be their first time living in a new country. That means communication needs to be clear, support needs to be easy to access, and the resident experience needs to feel simple from day one.

This is where Spike Living helps student accommodation teams create a smoother, more connected and hassle-free experience.

Start the Student Journey Before They Arrive

First impressions matter. With Spike Living, teams can send automated welcome messages to new students, as well as welcome back messages to returning students, helping everyone feel informed and looked after before they even step through the door.

Instead of manually sending the same information over and over again, teams can make welcome packs, building guides, policies, safety documents and key information available digitally through the app. Everything sits in one easy-to-access documents area, meaning students can find what they need at any time, without relying on printed handouts, long email threads or front desk queries.

Manage Move-In Slots and Bookable Services

Move-in can be one of the most stressful parts of the academic year for both teams and students.

With Spike Living, students can book move-in slots directly through the app, helping teams manage arrival times, plan staffing and ensure they are prepared when students arrive with bags, boxes and parents in tow.

Students can also book services such as cleaning, giving them more control over their living experience while helping teams manage requests more efficiently.

For parents, this shows that the building team is organised, proactive and ready to support their child from the very beginning.

Keep Everyone Updated, Without the Admin Overload

During the start of term, information changes quickly. There may be fire drills, amenity closures, event reminders, maintenance notices or building-specific announcements to share.

Spike Living allows teams to send instant notifications and updates to all students, or to specific residents in a particular area of the building. That means the right message reaches the right people at the right time, helping reduce confusion, missed updates and unnecessary questions for the onsite team.

Make Amenities Easy to Explore and Book

Students want convenience. With Spike Living, they can view available amenities, check opening times, see availability and book time slots directly from the app.

Whether they are booking study spaces, social areas, fitness facilities or other shared amenities, students can manage this themselves without needing to visit the front desk.

Teams can also collect details such as attendee numbers, including whether an external student or guest is visiting, giving staff better visibility and control over how shared spaces are being used.

Support International Students with Language Features

For international students, language barriers can make the move-in experience more stressful. Spike Living helps make communication more accessible by automatically translating the app into the regional language set on a student’s phone.

This makes it easier for international students to understand key information, engage with updates and access support with more confidence.

Support Safer, Smarter Visitor Management

Visitor management is an important part of student safety, especially in busy buildings with high footfall.

With Spike Living, teams can have better visibility over who is in the building at any time through quick visitor lists. Visitors can self-check in, while their host receives a notification when their guest arrives.

The platform can also support key release processes, helping visitors access the building when approved, while automatically adding the relevant details into the system. This is especially valuable during emergencies, as teams have clearer information on who may be in the building and who they may need to account for.

Give Students a Modern Way to Pay

Students are used to managing their lives from their phones, from banking and shopping to booking travel and ordering food.

Spike Living makes it easier for them to pay for rent, bills, replacement key fobs, paid events and more from one central platform. This creates a smoother experience for students and a more streamlined payment process for teams.

Make Maintenance Simple for First-Time Renters

For many students, this may be the first time they have had to report a maintenance issue themselves.

Spike Living makes the process clear and simple. Students can submit a maintenance request through the app, add details and upload a photo of the issue, making it easier to explain what has gone wrong. The request goes straight to the property team, who can manage the follow-up and keep a clear audit trail of correspondence.

This gives students confidence that their issue has been logged, while helping teams manage maintenance requests more efficiently.

Help New Students Build Friendships

Spike Living’s clubs and channels give students a safe, private space to connect with others in their building. From sports groups and course groups to wellbeing clubs, marketplaces or social channels, students can find people with shared interests and start building friendships from day one.

Because these spaces are exclusive to members of the building and can be moderated and monitored, teams can help protect students from bullying, online trolls or unsafe behaviour.

Bring Freshers’ Events and Community Activities Into One Place

For many students, moving into a new building can feel exciting but overwhelming. Freshers’ nerves are real, and creating a sense of community can make a huge difference to how positive their living experience feels.

Events are a huge part of student life. From freshers’ socials and workshops to fitness classes, welcome talks and community activities, events help students meet others and feel part of the building.

With Spike Living, teams can publish upcoming events in the app and amplify them through announcements and automated reminders.

They can also see which events are proving popular, manage attendance more easily and even monetise selected events by making them chargeable. This gives teams a simple way to increase engagement while creating more value for students.

Offer Support Through Two-Way Chat

Not every student feels comfortable going downstairs to ask for help, especially if they are shy, overwhelmed or new to the country.

Spike Living’s two-way chat function allows students to speak directly with a member of staff through the app. Whether they have a question, need support or want to raise an issue, they can start a conversation from wherever they are. This helps students feel less alone and gives teams a simple, secure way to provide support.

Take the Stress Out of Parcels

Parcel volumes can quickly become difficult to manage in student accommodation, especially at the start of term.

Spike Living helps teams streamline the process by allowing staff to scan in parcels or notify students through the app when a delivery has arrived.Students can receive details such as who signed it in, where to collect it from, and when it is ready. Where locker access is available, a QR code can be generated through the app so students can collect their parcel securely.

Push notifications also mean students know as soon as their parcel arrives, reducing queues, confusion and repeated front desk queries.

Add Value Through Exclusive Student Offers

Student life can be expensive, so exclusive promotions and offers can help accommodation providers add extra value.

Through Spike Living, teams can list discounts and promotions for local shops, restaurants, cafés, gyms and services, helping students feel more connected to their local area while giving them access to useful savings. It’s a simple way to improve the student experience beyond the building itself.

Share Helpful Local and Wellbeing Content

Settling into a new home is about more than finding your room. Students also need to understand the local area, know where to shop, how to register with a GP, where their academic buildings are, and what support is available.

With Spike Living, teams can publish custom content and articles directly in the app.

This could include local guides and information, wellbeing resources, transport tips, healthcare guidance, campus directions, and more.

For international students or those living away from home for the first time, this kind of content can make the transition feel much less daunting.

A Smoother Start to the Academic Year

Preparing for a new student influx does not have to mean more manual processes, more admin and more pressure on onsite teams.

With Spike Living, student accommodation providers can bring communication, bookings, documents, events, maintenance, payments, visitor management, parcel updates and community engagement together in one connected platform.

The result is a smoother move-in experience, better visibility for teams and a more welcoming environment for students. Because when students feel informed, supported and connected from day one, they are far more likely to feel at home.

Insight

TLJ, Spike and Nido Living Showcase Seamless Smart Access in Award Winning Madrid Developments

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 26 May 2026

(Written by Melissa Ramos, Head of Marketing at TLJ Access Control)

TLJ’s Identity smart locks, hands-free technology, integrated into the Spike Living platform, has been rolled out across Nido’s Spanish portfolio.

TLJ Access Control has released a new video case study spotlighting its smart access control integration with Spike Living across Nido Living’s two newly developed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sites in Madrid: Plaza Castilla and Principe Pio.

Designed to support both the operational and resident experience, the video highlights how TLJ’s Identity smart locks, hands-free technology, integrated into the Spike Living platform, has been rolled out across Nido’s Spanish portfolio.

Both properties offer high-spec student accommodation with a hybrid model at Principe Pio, which also functions as a hotel during the summer months. TLJ’s system supports this dual use by enabling seamless mobile key access for residents and staff, combined with intelligent AI route learning that unlocks doors automatically as residents move through the building.

The project also features TLJ’s latest innovation, the EcoBolt. Embedded into the locking system, EcoBolt activates energy only when the room is occupied and locked from the inside. This uncheatable device ensures energy efficiency without compromising student comfort.

For operators, it delivers significant cost savings and full compliance without the need for additional wiring or keycard systems.

Beyond the resident experience, TLJ’s technology also supports staff and operational teams. The system includes dedicated access controls for maintenance and cleaning staff, and fully integrates with Spike Living, who developed a fully branded, resident-facing app for Nido Living.

Our work with Nido Living shows what’s possible when access control becomes part of a wider operational ecosystem. From enhancing day-to-day convenience for students to improving functionality and flexibility for on-site staff, our technology delivers practical solutions that integrate fully with platforms like Spike Living to streamline the entire resident journey.

Luke Martin Chief Technology Officer, TLJ

Case Study

Spike Living Launches The Barbican App Across the City of London’s Barbican Estate

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 7 May 2026

Resident communications, culture and community are now brought together in one digital experience at a world-renowned Brutalist icon

There are few residential addresses in the UK as instantly recognisable as the Barbican. A world-renowned Brutalist icon in the heart of the Square Mile, the Grade II-listed Barbican Estate is celebrated as a premier example of visionary post-war urban planning: a bold “city within a city” defined by its striking concrete-and-green aesthetic, elevated walkways, tranquil water features and remarkable sense of place.

Now, that landmark community has a new digital home.

Spike Living has launched The Barbican App across the City of London’s Barbican Estate, creating a dedicated platform that brings resident communications, estate updates, cultural happenings, placemaking activity and promotions together in one accessible digital hub. More than a communications tool, the app is designed to connect residents with the full rhythm of life at the Barbican, putting everything from important notices to exciting events in the palm of their hands.

For a place as layered, distinctive and culturally significant as the Barbican, that feels especially meaningful.

Conceived in the decades after the Second World War, the Barbican was designed to transform a war-torn part of London into a high-density yet deeply liveable neighbourhood. Architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon imagined something radical for its time: a self-contained urban environment that separated pedestrians from traffic via elevated “pedways”, combined homes with arts and education, and created moments of calm and retreat in the middle of the city.

With its towers, terraced blocks, intricate almost castle-like detailing, skyways, gardens and water features, the Barbican remains one of London’s most sought-after and visually distinctive places to live. Home to more than 2,000 residences, it is also a cultural and educational hub of rare scale and significance.

It is this unique mix of home, heritage and culture that makes The Barbican App such an impactful launch.

The Barbican is one of the most recognisable residential places in the country, not just because of its architecture, but because of what it represents. It is a landmark London community with an extraordinary sense of history, culture and identity. We’re incredibly proud that Spike Living has launched across the Barbican Estate and that we are working with the City of London to support resident communications through The Barbican App.

What makes this especially exciting is the opportunity to bring everything together for residents in one place, from essential updates and estate information to cultural events, local happenings, placemaking activity and promotions. It’s about creating a digital experience that feels seamless and modern, while still respecting everything that makes the Barbican so distinctive.

Jeremy Heath-SmithCEO, Spike

By bringing together practical estate information with the wider cultural life of the Barbican, the app helps bridge the gap between modern digital living and the history, identity and everyday experience that make the estate so special. Residents can access essential communications more easily, while also staying connected to the events, local happenings, placemaking initiatives and promotions that shape life across the estate and its surrounding cultural ecosystem.

In that sense, the launch is about more than technology. It is about enhancing the resident experience in a way that complements the Barbican’s character rather than competing with it, using digital tools to support a community already defined by strong identity, architectural significance and an exceptional sense of belonging.

We are proud to be working with Spike Living to introduce The Barbican App across the estate, enhancing how we connect with and support our residents. The Barbican has always been a unique and closely connected community, and this app builds on that by making it easier for residents to access important information, stay up to date with estate activity, and engage with the rich cultural life that surrounds them.

At its heart, this is about improving the everyday resident experience, providing a simple, accessible way to stay informed and involved, while strengthening the sense of community that makes the Barbican so special. We are delighted to see this brought to life in a way that complements the character of the estate and supports residents in their day-to-day lives

Dan Sanders Head of Property and Estate Management at the City of London

For Spike, the launch is a powerful example of how resident technology is evolving. Digital platforms are no longer just associated with new-build developments or conventional schemes. Increasingly, they have a role to play in complex, established communities too, helping estate teams communicate more effectively while giving residents a clearer, more convenient way to stay informed, engaged and connected to where they live.

At the Barbican, that means supporting a resident experience that is as much about place as it is about property. A place where architecture, culture and community have always been deeply intertwined now has a platform that reflects that same connected way of living.

For Spike, it is a proud milestone: helping power the digital experience behind one of London’s most celebrated residential communities, and supporting the City of London in a setting where history, culture and contemporary living meet every day.

Insight

Spike and OOHPod Collaborate to Improve Parcel Management for Residential Communities Across Ireland

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 28 April 2026

Spike has announced a strategic partnership with Irish smart locker provider OOHPod, bringing integrated parcel management technology into the Spike Living platform for modern residential developments across Ireland.

The partnership responds to one of the fastest-growing operational challenges facing the residential sector: managing rising parcel volumes in a way that works for both residents and onsite teams. As e-commerce continues to reshape consumer behaviour, building operators are under increasing pressure to handle deliveries securely, efficiently and at scale, while residents expect greater convenience, visibility and 24/7 access to their parcels.

By integrating OOHPod’s smart locker technology with Spike Living, the partnership is helping turn parcel management from a daily friction point, into a seamless part of the resident experience. Rather than relying on overflowing lobbies, manual handovers or overstretched concierge teams, residents can receive delivery notifications via Spike Living and manage parcel collections through the same digital platform they already use to engage with their building.

Our collaboration with OOHPod is an exciting step forward in strengthening the Spike Living ecosystem with integrated services that genuinely improve everyday life for residents and operators alike. Parcel management has become a growing challenge across residential communities, driven by rising delivery volumes and increasing expectations around convenience.

By partnering with OOHPod, we’re making it easier for operators to streamline building operations while giving residents a more seamless, secure and connected experience through a single platform.

Jeremy Heath-SmithCEO, Spike

OOHPod’s residential solution is designed to help buildings tackle parcel overload, limited storage space and the growing administrative burden associated with delivery management. Through its integration with Spike Living, residents benefit from secure smart locker storage, self-service collection, real-time delivery notifications and a simpler, more intuitive experience within one app, removing the need to download or manage multiple platforms.

OOHPod also differentiates itself through its direct-to-building delivery model, allowing carriers to deliver straight to the building rather than routing parcels through central depots.

OOHPod lockers are integrated with major carriers including DPD, UPS and DHL, enabling residents not only to receive parcels securely, but also to send and return parcels directly from their building.

What’s more, OOHPod’s residential offering also supports 24/7 access, peer-to-peer parcel exchange between residents and reduced clutter in communal spaces.

Collaborating with Spike allows us to embed OOHPod directly into the digital heart of residential living. Together, we’re creating a seamless experience where residents can manage everything, from communication and amenities, to parcel deliveries, within a single app.

For residents, this means greater convenience, security, and control. For operators, it significantly reduces the operational burden of parcel management while enhancing the overall resident experience. Partnerships like this are key to the future of residential living, where smart technology and integrated services work together to simplify everyday life.

John TuohyCEO, OOHPod

The new alliance reflects a shared focus on creating smarter residential environments where digital services are embedded into the daily resident journey, rather than operating as disconnected add-ons. For OOHPod, the partnership strengthens its proposition to residential developers and operators by positioning parcel lockers not simply as an amenity, but as part of the building’s wider digital infrastructure. For Spike, it reinforces the value of Spike Living as a platform that connects residents with the services they use most.

As residential operators continue to look for ways to future-proof buildings against increasing delivery demand, Spike and OOHPod are positioning integrated parcel management as an essential part of the modern resident experience.

Insight

The Resident Experience Has Changed. Is Your Building Keeping Up?

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 16 April 2026

The resident experience is no longer defined by amenities alone. Today, it is shaped by how easy a building is to live in every day.

Residents expect the same speed, convenience and simplicity from their home environment that they get from the rest of their lives. They can order food, book appointments and manage services instantly from their phone – and increasingly, they expect the same from their building. In fact, 92% of residents now prefer digital communication, showing just how much expectations have shifted.

For operators, that creates a clear challenge. If communication feels slow, processes feel fragmented, or information is difficult to access, even the most attractive building can start to feel outdated.

Amenities may Attract Attention, but Experience Shapes Satisfaction

For years, residential schemes competed on amenities. Gyms, lounges, roof terraces and co-working spaces were seen as key differentiators.

Those features still matter, but they are no longer enough on their own.

Today’s residents are paying closer attention to the day-to-day experience of living in a building. Can they quickly find the information they need? Can they book shared spaces easily? Can they report issues without unnecessary friction? Do they feel informed and connected to what is happening in their building?

These everyday moments increasingly shape how residents feel about where they live. And when residents have access to digital tools that make those interactions easier, the impact is clear – 83% report higher satisfaction.

Digital Convenience is no Longer a Premium Add-on

Despite changing expectations, many operators are still relying on a mix of emails, noticeboards, manual processes and disconnected systems to manage key resident interactions.

That often creates avoidable friction for both residents and site teams. Updates get missed, bookings become harder to manage, and key information is not always easy to access. Over time, these small frustrations can have a big impact on how residents perceive the overall quality of a building.

This is where the gap begins to show.

Because even in modern developments, outdated communication methods can make the resident experience feel behind the times.

Resident Experience is now an Operational Priority

This is not just about meeting lifestyle expectations. It is also about improving efficiency and supporting stronger resident satisfaction over time.

When communication is centralised and easy to access, site teams spend less time chasing responses or dealing with repeat queries. When residents can self-serve, access information, book amenities and report issues more easily, the day-to-day experience improves for everyone.

Just as importantly, it becomes easier to build a stronger sense of connection. Residents want to feel informed, included and part of a community — not simply like they live in a building.

That is why resident experience is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a key part of how residential buildings perform.

Deliver a modern residential experience with Spike Living

As expectations continue to evolve, operators need tools that support a smoother, more joined-up living experience.

Spike Living helps residential operators bring communication, services and engagement together in one place. From updates and document access to amenity bookings, issue reporting and community engagement, it gives residents a simpler, more connected experience of home.

For operators, that means clearer communication, less operational friction and a stronger foundation for resident satisfaction.

Because today, the resident experience is not just part of the building offer – in many cases, it is the offer.

Want to see how Spike Living helps operators deliver a more modern resident experience? Get in touch with our team.

Insight

Introducing Visitor Management

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 26 March 2026

Knowing exactly who is in your building at any moment isn’t just good practice – it’s essential for safety, compliance, and day-to-day operations.

Our new Visitor Management feature gives operators full visibility and control over visitors, contractors, carers and more, helping teams manage buildings more safely and efficiently.

Whether it’s a routine visit, a contractor on site, or an emergency situation, you’ll always have an accurate, real-time record of who is in the building and where.

Built for operators, front-of-house teams, and property managers

Visitor Management has been designed to fit into real building workflows, making it easy to check people in, track movements, and generate reports when needed.

Key capabilities include:

Self check-in forms for quick and simple arrivals
QR codes for regular visitors, compatible with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet
Visitor profiles with stored details and images
Push notifications to residents when their guest arrives
Downloadable visitor reports for compliance and audit trails
Real-time visitor lists for emergency and evacuation procedures

In the event of a fire alarm or emergency, teams can instantly download a list of everyone on site in seconds – supporting fire safety procedures and regulatory responsibilities.

Designed for the realities of managing buildings

Visitor Management supports a wide range of real-world scenarios, including:

Guests visiting residents
Students hosting friends or attending study sessions in shared spaces
Contractors arriving for maintenance
Regular visitors such as cleaners, carers or family members
Self check-in via tablet or QR code
Tracking access to specific areas like gyms or amenities

Staff can check visitors in manually, visitors can check themselves in, or residents can pre-register guests in advance – all from the same system.

This means less admin, fewer errors, and a clear record of activity across the building.

Better visibility. Safer buildings. Simpler compliance.

With increasing focus on building safety, fire procedures, and operator accountability, having a reliable visitor record is no longer optional.

Visitor Management helps operators:

Maintain accurate on-site records
Support emergency planning
Improve front-of-house efficiency
Strengthen compliance processes
Provide a better experience for residents and guests

See Visitor Management in Action

Our new Visitor Management feature is now available within Spike Living.

If you’d like to see how it works, get in touch with the Spike team to book a demo.

Insight

Spike Living Product Updates – Q1 2026

Post author By Zara Bridle
Post date 9 March 2026

Over the past year, we’ve been working closely with our clients across BTR, Student, Co-Living, BTS and Commercial communities – listening carefully to operational challenges, regulatory pressures, and evolving resident expectations.

The result is a powerful new wave of enhancements to Spike Living.

Here’s what’s new:

Visitor Management – Designed for Safer Communities

Our new Visitor Management functionality gives operators greater visibility and control over who is in the building.

Key capabilities include:

Self check-in forms
QR codes issued to regular visitors (compatible with Apple and Google Wallet)
Visitor profiles with stored details and images
Push notifications to residents when their guest arrives
Downloadable visitor reports for compliance and emergency planning

In the event of an emergency, teams can provide an accurate, real-time record of who is on site and where – supporting fire safety procedures and regulatory responsibilities.

Content Moderation – Protecting Digital Communities

Spike Living now includes AI-powered content moderation across groups and channels, ensuring safer online spaces for students and residents.

Features include:

Automated moderation of inappropriate or harmful content
Resident reporting functionality
Staff oversight with visibility of removed or flagged content
Back-end moderation controls

This provides reassurance that digital spaces remain respectful, secure and aligned with community standards – without creating additional manual workload.

Financial Management Update – Built for Modern Rental Models

Rental models are evolving, and in response, we’ve enhanced Spike Living’s financial capabilities to support this shift.

The platform now enables:

Creation and editing of invoices
Credit notes for concessions, incentives or welcome credits
Structured invoice schedules (monthly, weekly or custom periods)
Immediate stopping of recurring schedules when residents vacate
Linking transactions directly to units
Pulling and reconciling previous payments
Importing service charges from systems such as Propman or MRI Qube, or raising them manually

For operators managing large portfolios, this means greater visibility, flexibility and operational efficiency – all in one place.

Areas & Spaces – Smarter Amenity Management

Modern communities are built around shared spaces – from gyms and co-working lounges to sky pools and study rooms.

With our new Areas functionality, operators can:

Create defined amenity spaces within a building
Build sub-spaces within each area (e.g. yoga studio, study spaces, shared kitchens, treatment space)
Apply unique imagery to reflect each space’s identity
Set booking rules and permission-based access
Require health and safety inductions before access
Restrict content or channels based on membership type

Operators can also create different membership types – enabling premium access models, controlled content visibility, or differentiated privileges. The result is structured, digital gatekeeping aligned with real-world building operations.

Appointments – Operational Efficiency at Scale

Our upgraded Appointments module introduces Appointment Templates and a dynamic Appointment Calendar, transforming how teams manage scheduling.

Property teams can now:

Create structured appointment windows with defined availability
Assign appointments to teams or individuals
Share booking schedules with specific buildings or resident groups
Automatically include newly onboarded residents
Allow residents or students to self-book, reschedule or cancel
Control booking visibility based on permissions (e.g. gym members vs induction bookings)

By enabling self-service scheduling, property teams save significant administrative time while improving the resident experience.

Built With the Market – And What’s Next

These updates are the result of ongoing collaboration with our clients and a deep understanding of where the living sector is heading.

Operators are seeking:

Consolidation of systems
Greater compliance oversight
Reduced manual processes
Improved data visibility
Enhanced resident experience

Spike Living is evolving to meet that demand – and we have further enhancements already in development that we look forward to sharing soon.

See It in Action

If you’re exploring a more integrated approach to resident engagement, compliance and operational management, we’d love to show you what Spike Living can do.

Book your personalised demo with our sales team today and discover how it could work for your portfolio – and get an insight into what’s coming next!