Category: Insight

We are pleased to share that Spike has been nominated for the Technology Innovator of the Year Award at the Property Week Resi Awards 2024, recognising Spike’s dedication to driving change in the residential sector through its cutting-edge technology solutions. 

In 2023, we saw a surge in demand for our solutions, both nationally and internationally, with our award-winning resident engagement portal now deployed across more than 500 buildings in 15 countries. Along with new partnerships with industry-leading names such as Casa by Moda, Niche Living, and Baxter Homes emphasising Spike’s position as a pioneer in reshaping the residential landscape. 

Research has shown that a significant percentage of our happiness is tied to the quality of our living environment, highlighting the importance of ensuring a positive and convenient residential experience.

Spike Living addresses this by offering a comprehensive suite of features, including centralised document management, the ability to book onsite amenities and services, maintenance reporting, direct messaging with staff, and much more, all aimed at enhancing residents’ daily lives. 

Furthermore, Spike Living also serves as a bridge between residential communities and local businesses, revitalising the local economy while enriching the resident experience. Through strategic alliances and integrations, Spike ensures that residents have access to exclusive discounts and services, forging stronger relationship between residential developments and their surroundings. 

As we eagerly anticipate the Property Week Resi Awards ceremony on Wednesday 1st May 2024, at Grosvenor House, London, we extend our gratitude to the judges for recognising Spike’s contributions to the industry.

Congratulations to all the finalists who made the shortlist! We’re looking forward to an exciting night celebrating innovation, excellence, and the future of residential living.  

See the full shortlist here.  

We’re thrilled to share that Spike has been nominated for the CommuniCare Impact Award at the prestigious Global ESG Awards 2024, recognising Spike’s commitment to fostering positive social change within our clients’ developments and the surrounding communities. 

Our nomination highlights the significant impact we’ve achieved in enhancing community engagement, social interaction and placemaking through our innovative tenant engagement solutions. 

An example includes the work that Spike has been doing with Riverwalk Innovation Hub, a major office development situated at the heart of Citywest Business Campus in Dublin. Working closely with Bartra, Spike developed The Riverwalk Workplace app, a tailored solution designed to connect tenants, staff, and property managers seamlessly. 

The app facilitates communication, provides essential information, and fosters a sense of community among tenants. Through features such as push notifications and the online social clubs and forums, tenants can engage with each other, organise events and stay updated on campus activities. Tenants can also use the app to submit any queries they have to JLL Ireland, the managing agent, which has encouraged regular feedback on what they are enjoying the most and what they would like to see added to the campus. 

After the Covid-19 pandemic, the JLL Estate Team had the challenge of how-to encourage people back into the workplace. The app played a pivotal role by showcasing the safety measure in place and highlighting the events that were taking place across the development, such as Taco Thursday and regular fitness classes. The Riverwalk Workplace app has quickly become an integral part of the Riverwalk experience, with over 500 tenants now back in the office on a regular basis and using the app.  

Spike’s commitment to social impact extends internally as well, with the team actively participating in various fundraising events and charity initiatives. In addition, Spike fosters a diverse culture and encourages employees to celebrate their individuality. For instance, cultural holidays provide opportunities for the team to see their heritage celebrated at work, which can enable them to feel a sense of belonging, respect, and representation. All these initiatives earnt Spike a spot on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2023. 

The Global ESG Awards 2024 voting is open to the public until 18th February, we invite you to support Spike by casting your vote here. 

The winner will be announced at this year’s MIPIM where the trophy presentation will take place at the Grand Auditorium Stage on Tuesday 12th of March 2024. 

Join us in championing sustainability, innovation, and positive change. Thank you for your support! 

After the success of last year’s charity initiative with Dorset Mind, we are thrilled to announce our 2024 Charity of the Year as Hope for Food. 

Selected by staff, Hope for Food is a volunteer-driven charity with a noble mission: provide basic necessities to those in our local area who are homeless or living in poverty. Their efforts include providing meals and food parcels, clothing distribution, and supplying small household goods. Hope for Food operates with deep respect and dignity, offering help to anyone in need, judgement-free.

During their Christmas appeal, Hope for Food, distributed 428 Christmas food parcels and over 1,750 selection boxes to children, along with 234 regular food parcels. Beyond food, they also provided gift vouchers, stocking fillers, and gift bags to families and individuals in refuges or supported housing, including four hostels which they support. This ensured that the festive spirit was felt by all, regardless of their circumstances.

In their ongoing mission, Hope for Food consistently supports around 160 families weekly with food parcels, fresh produce, toiletries, and household cleaning packs. They also cater to the community’s broader needs by providing food, drinks, clothing, shoes, bedding, tents/sleeping bags and other essential items on a twice weekly basis to the homeless, rough sleepers and vulnerably housed. As well as responding to specific requests from social and support workers, demonstrating a commitment to addressing both general and specific needs within the community.

Although they received remarkable support during the holiday season, the charity is now facing a drastic decrease in donations, averaging just 2-3 donations per week. Spike is committed to helping the charity maintain it’s essential food, clothing and household item supplies to that they can continue supporting those in need.  

 
As part of our partnership with Hope for Food, our team will be participating in a wide range of activities, including volunteering at Hope for Food’s meal distribution drives, soup kitchens, providing donations for food, clothing and essential items, as well as taking part in fundraising events to support Hope for Food’s mission to assist less fortunate households and families in our community.  

 
We invite our clients, partners, friends and members of our community to join us in making a difference by supporting Hope for Food throughout 2024. Together, we can contribute to a brighter future for those facing hardship. 

You can see all the fantastic work Hope for Food are doing and donate here.  

Up until the recent Build-to-Rent boom, BTR had typically catered to students and young professionals who were embarking on their careers. Fast forward a few years, and it’s the 25-34 year olds who now make up the most common demographic of residents, with an increasing percentage of 55-64 year olds living in BTR developments too. The current financial climate is likely to push this recent shift even further, increasing its wide-scale appeal, especially with hesitant first-time buyers. 

As the demographics of those living in BTR are changing, so too are the expectations and needs from their rented properties. 

Shifting priorities

Each BTR development is unique, offering residents a variety of amenities and services included in their monthly rent or as additional paid for services. Operators recognise the importance of having unique and varied spaces with an incredible array of facilities and services on offer to potential residents, from dining rooms and cinema rooms to rooftop spaces, communal gardens and dedicated wellness rooms. With shifting demographics however, it may be wise to keep options open and create more flexible, multi-purpose amenity spaces to allow residents to decide for themselves how to use these areas.

As well as high-quality amenities and facilities, research has revealed that one of the biggest priorities for renters is having the latest connectivity options when. According to a survey of 500 residents and 200 apartment operators conducted by DISH Business, 81% of property owners and managers indicated that technology services were important in keeping residents satisfied, while 67% agreed that they could do more to provide the highest level of technology to their residents.

Connectivity done right 

A 2019 report from Wiredscore, ‘Poor Foundations: the state of UK residential connectivity’, claims two-thirds of developers can rent their well-connected properties at a higher price and possibly with a greater yield. Two-fifths – 40% – of developers have seen an increase in demand for their properties, while more than half – 56% – stating they can rent their properties for longer, due to the improved in-home experience. 

Managed internet service providers, such as ASK4, can elevate a resident’s connectivity experience, which can then return in higher rates of retention. Traditional ISPs tend to have a number of limitations when it comes to connectivity in multi-tenant buildings. Firstly, the lack of a managed service layer, means monitoring and maintenance, as well as proactive improvements to the service are either not at the level that residents expect, or are simply missing altogether, resulting in a worse experience for both residents and on-site teams.

ASK4’s 4Network delivers seamless connectivity for an unlimited number of smart devices to provide a connectivity experience, just as you would expect in a traditional home setting. What’s more though, this network extends site-wide beyond the walls of a resident’s apartment, meaning that that smart devices in their own spaces can be operated while dining in the building’s cafe, or working out in the gym for instance. This helps residents to integrate into a building’s wider community and make those communal facilities feel part of their home. 

Building a community with connectivity 

BTR residents are drawn to the promise of a vibrant community within their building. Common areas designed for social interaction, such as communal lounges, rooftop gardens, and co-working spaces are highly valued. Latest ONS data has revealed that those aged between 16-29 are over twice as likely to report feeling lonely often or always than those over 70, so it’s no surprise that this years’ Who Lives in Build-to-Rent report found that social spaces were rated as one of the most important amenities to residents, along with a social calendar and events. These spaces foster a sense of belonging and provide opportunities for residents to connect, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships with their neighbours. 

However, residents do not suddenly become part of a community just because there are communal spaces, or someone has put up an event flyer on a noticeboard. Resident engagement portals like Spike Living play an increasingly important part. Through Spike Living, residents can connect with each other instantly, and the ‘what’s around me’ feature can highlight local shops and services, reducing the anxiety around moving to a new location. In addition to providing much-needed visibility to smaller businesses, encouraging residents to explore what’s on their doorsteps.

What’s more, Spike Living allows residents to create their own clubs and forums, enabling residents to find like-minded people who share similar interests. Whilst staff can share and promote in-house and local events, all helping to foster a sense of community. Developments that have implemented resident engagement portals have reported a 20% increase in resident participation in community events and initiatives in the first 3 months alone. 

Summary 

BTR residents are seeking more than just a place to live—they crave a comprehensive living experience that aligns with their values and connectivity needs, both digitally and physically. Developers and operators who understand and cater to these desires by providing adequate internet connectivity, community-focused spaces, and resident portals are poised to attract and retain a diverse range of residents. As the BTR sector continues to evolve, staying attuned to these preferences will be crucial for those aiming to create thriving, dynamic living communities. 

Spike is thrilled to be shortlisted for this year’s UK PropTech Awards in the ‘Social Impact’ category which celebrates companies leveraging technology solutions to positively benefit society and enhance people’s lives, whilst emphasising wellbeing and staff engagement in social impact interventions. This nomination stands as a testament to our commitment to creating thriving communities across the developments that use Spike.

Leveraging Technology for Social Change

Our award-winning resident engagement portal, Spike Living, provides a user-friendly platform that facilitates community engagement, social interaction, and placemaking, ensuring residents feel connected to their surroundings.

Recent statistics have revealed that the more friends a resident has within their building, the more likely they are to renew their tenancy. Without any friends living in their community, residents only have a 29% chance of renewing. That number jumps to 38% if they have 1-3 friends, and if they have 7 or more friends, there’s a 47% likelihood that they’ll renew. 

What’s more, it’s been reported that loneliness is up 40%, according to a report published by the Office for National Statistics. When residents first move into their new accommodation, it is likely that they will be unfamiliar with the surrounding area and may not have made friends or met many people. Through Spike Living, residents can effortlessly connect, discover local services, and initiate friendships, addressing the increasing issue of loneliness and the initial challenges residents face when settling into a new environment. 

Spike Living isn’t just limited to fostering friendships, it also acts as a central information hub. Residents and property management can digitally communicate to share information, access building manuals, as well as residents being able track their own energy consumption through our partnership with Utopi, contributing to a more environmentally conscious and efficient community. 

Ensuring Equality and Employee Wellbeing 

Spike’s commitment to social impact also extends internally. Spike prioritises a workplace culture where staff feel valued, respected, and have avenues to voice their concerns. The company actively nurtures a culture of inclusivity and employee wellbeing. Initiatives such as fostering a diverse work environment and celebrating cultural holidays have created a sense of belonging and respect among our staff. 

We also take pride in our gender-inclusive practices through participating in initiatives such as International Women’s Day and Men’s Mental Health Day. We’re proud to have built a cohesive work environment that encourages individuality and camaraderie. 

At the start of 2023, we also introduced a ‘Charity of the Year’ initiative, empowering employees to select a charity to support. By engaging in various fundraising events, beach clean-ups, through partnering with Dorset Mind, we not only support the chosen charity but also share wellness initiatives across our client communities. 

Recognition and Growth

Our commitment to our employees recently earned us a spot on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2023 list, recognising organisations with the highest employee engagement and wellbeing levels.

We achieved an overall engagement score of 87%, 11% higher than the industry average. We also scored highly across the key categories for employee engagement and workplace happiness including reward and recognition, instilling pride, sharing information, employee wellbeing, and job satisfaction.

Summary

Spike’s solutions exemplify how technology can be harnessed to create thriving, interconnected communities. Our nomination for the UK PropTech Awards 2023 – Social Impact award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to social good and community building through innovative tech solutions, regardless of the outcome.  

To view the full shortlist of nominees for the UK PropTech Awards 2023, visit the official website here.

Homebuyers today have higher expectations regarding the quality of their homes. They also expect builders to address any issues promptly and provide excellent customer service. This ongoing relationship is vital for customer satisfaction and the reputation of the builder.

Housebuilders therefore need to adopt a customer-first mindset and focus on long-term relationships with buyers. With that mind, here’s how resident portals like Spike Living can play a part in enhancing communication and experience for owners and the benefits they can bring to housebuilders.

Simplifying the Snagging Process

Typically, the reporting of snagging issues is cumbersome and difficult for owners, with 45% of homeowners dissatisfied with the snagging process according to research by the Homeowners Alliance.  More often or not, owners use emails, WhatsApp messages or text messages to report issues. With sporadic messages and the use of different channels, this makes it difficult for housebuilders to keep track of what’s been submitted and even harder to keep owners updated on the progress. Not to mention making it almost impossible to track against SLAs and performance metrics for response times.  

Having a portal like Spike Living in place can speed up the reporting of issues in these instances, with owners able to quickly provide staff with a clear picture of the problem, and even attach photos so staff can diagnose the fault ahead of time. This increases the likelihood of fixing the issue in their first visit and reduces response times by 30%. Housebuilders can also benefit from Spike Living’s powerful reporting module, allowing them to spot any wider issues to do with material defectives or poor workmanship such as faulty taps or leaking showers. 

Sharing of Documentation 

When a new owner moves into a property, they are often confronted with mountains of paperwork which can easily get misplaced or mislaid. By using a resident portal like Spike Living key homeowner documentation such as policies, certifications and appliance guides can be digitalised and shared directly and securely with owners. This helps reduce the amount of printed paperwork and provides an easy way for owners to keep up to date with the latest versions. 

Housebuilders can also share Frequently Asked Questions, providing useful information for homeowners such as where to find the stopcock or bin collection days. Having all this information readily accessible means that more often or not, owners can find the information they need themselves, whenever they need it. 

Focus on Long-Term Relationships

It can be hard for housebuilders to maintain connections with owners once they move into a property. Resident portals like Spike Living enables housebuilders to continue a dialogue long after owners have moved in. This allows them to nurture the relationship and start to promote other developments that they are building or have launched, ensuring that if there is a future need for the owner to upsize, downsize or relocate, then they are more likely to consider your development over others.  

What’s more, Spike’s partnership with HomeViews allows owners to share their experience and leave feedback about the housebuilder and what it’s like living in a particular development. With research revealing that 95% of today’s consumers read reviews before they make a purchase, having positive feedback from owners can go a long way in promoting the development.

Facilitating Community Engagement

Unlike high-rise developments where people naturally meet in lobbies or lifts, with traditional housing developments there is limited or no communal space which can make it difficult for neighbours to get to know one another. Therefore, it’s no surprise that loneliness can be more of a problem for newcomers moving into houses.

Resident portals like Spike Living provide ways for these owners to meet their neighbours in the virtual world first, via various online clubs and forums, then organise real-life events if they so wish. This can be especially helpful for young parents who may feel isolated. This digital community-building enhances the sense of belonging, encouraging owners to become active participants in shaping their communities.

Resident portals also serve as a virtual town square, allowing owners to voice their opinions and preferences regarding local initiatives. This can make communication between owners, housebuilders, and local authorities much more transparent, helping to build trust and ensuring that residents are informed about ongoing placemaking projects. 

In addition, the ‘what’s around me’ feature in Spike Living can highlight local shops and services, reducing the anxiety around moving to a new location and provide much-needed visibility to smaller businesses, encouraging owners to explore what’s on their doorsteps. Housebuilders can also partner with local retailers to offer owners exclusive discounts and incentives, all promoted via their residents’ portal.

Spike in Action

Spike recently worked with Baxter Homes to roll out a resident engagement portal across their developments. By utilising Spike Living this has enabled Baxter to streamline its approach to customer service and reduce its reliance on paper-based systems. By providing its purchasers with a one-stop app, owners are able to easily and quickly report defects and snagging issues, access key information in a centralised and secure place, receive important updates from across the development, as well as communicate directly with the aftercare team.

Owners also have access to an interactive social hub where they can get to know their new neighbours and the local area, helping them to settle in much quicker. 

Summary

Resident portals offer numerous advantages to housebuilders by improving communication, enhancing operational efficiency, and increasing owner satisfaction. For homeowners, it can help take away the stress in what is often considered one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life, allowing them to meet their neighbours more easily and helping them to settle in much quicker. 

Placemaking has transformed from a mere buzzword to an indispensable strategy for creating thriving and sustainable communities. In a dynamic landscape where supply and demand continually shape the real estate sector, it’s more than constructing buildings; it’s about creating environments that foster a sense of belonging, identity, and community. “We shape buildings”, Winston Churchill once argued, “and then, they shape us”.

The Significance of Placemaking

All too often placemaking is viewed as a luxury, something nice but not essential to a development’s success. Recent praise from Housing Secretary Michael Gove regarding a new checklist that rates the placemaking quality of developments underlines the growing importance of this concept. The reality is, placemaking can generate a big return on investment. 

A well-designed, community-focused development makes it more likely that potential residents will not only choose a development over others but also remain living there. According to a survey conducted by the National Multifamily Housing Council, communities with strong placemaking initiatives saw a 7% increase in resident retention rates. 

Furthermore, developments with thriving communal spaces, and a strong sense of identity tend to increase in value more rapidly than those lacking these elements. As property values increase, both investors and residents can benefit. The Urban Land Institute reported that residential properties located within walking distance of well-designed public spaces and amenities can command up to 20% higher rental and sales prices. 

How Resident Portals Facilitate Placemaking

In the digital age, technology has emerged as a powerful tool to facilitate placemaking. Here’s how resident portals play a pivotal role in creating vibrant communities. 

Fostering Community Connection

Placemaking often involves community events and gatherings. Resident portals can help in organising and promoting these events, making it easier for residents to participate. Developments that have implemented resident engagement portals have reported a 20% increase in resident participation in community events and initiatives.

Resident portals also provide residents with a central place to connect with their neighbours, share experiences, and organise events or activities. This digital community-building enhances the sense of belonging, encouraging residents to become active participants in shaping their communities. 

What’s more, latest ONS data has revealed that those aged between 16-29 are over twice as likely to report feeling lonely often or always than those over 70.  Having solutions like Spike Living in place allows residents to easily connect and find others in their local community that share similar interests and hobbies. 

Resident portals also serve as a virtual town square, allowing residents to voice their opinions and preferences regarding local initiatives. This can make communication between residents, property management, and local authorities much more transparent, helping to build trust and ensuring that residents are informed about ongoing placemaking projects. 

Simplifying Communication

Effective communication is crucial in maintaining a thriving community. Resident portals make it easier for residents to report issues, request maintenance, and receive updates on community news, as well as be kept informed about safety policies and important information, creating a more responsive living experience.

Research by Zego found that developments that use resident engagement portals experience a 30% reduction in response times for maintenance requests, leading to higher resident satisfaction. 

Spike Living acts as a central communication hub, boasting a multitude of ways to enhance communication in developments, whether it’s messaging between staff and residents, or serving as an exclusive and safe form of social media, with residents getting to know their neighbours through a mobile app. 

Access to Amenities and Services

Through resident portals, residents can access information about local amenities and services. This information empowers residents to explore and make the most of their community. Developments that have resident portals in place have reported a 25% increase in amenity utilisation, leading to higher resident satisfaction.
 
Spike Living serves as a gateway to a range of amenities and services within the community. Residents can easily book facilities, find local businesses, and access exclusive offers, all from the palm of their hands, enhancing their overall living experience. 

Achieve ESG and Sustainability Goals

Sustainability is a key aspect of modern placemaking. Recent research into what modern renters and homeowners want from their living environment found that 80% of respondents said it was important that their home has sustainability credentials when considering a new place to live.

Resident portals like Spike Living can connect residents with other like-minded neighbours via various online clubs and forums. Creating a place where residents can share their own useful tips, and organise their own community events such as neighbourhood clean-ups or volunteer days, helps to instil a sense of togetherness and collective focus.  

Research by Spike, ASK4 and Utopi found that investing in developing a community not only enhances the resident experience – it can also lead to better outcomes. Residents are more likely to behave in a way that benefits the collective good if they feel an attachment to the people, place, and community in which they live, something that resident portals can help with.

Summary

Placemaking is a dynamic process that goes beyond traditional urban planning. It involves the active participation of residents, a commitment to cultural identity, and a focus on creating safe, sustainable, and inviting spaces. Resident portals such as Spike Living serve as a valuable tool in this process, enabling community engagement, transparency, and information sharing. As the real estate industry continues to evolve, those who prioritise placemaking and invest in their communities will undoubtedly come out ahead.