Top 10 BTR developments in London: HomeViews BTR Awards 2020

Which are the best BTR developments in London? The HomeViews BTR Awards have decided the Top 10 for 2020. These are the only awards for the Build to Rent industry that are based on resident reviews. The rankings for 2020 were also calculated solely on reviews submitted since January 1st, to provide a unique insight into how these developments have responded in such a tumultuous year.

2020 has been a year of both challenge and opportunity for the BTR industry. HomeViews reviews show a sector swiftly adapting to the needs of its residents in the face of a pandemic and lockdown. Property management teams went above and beyond to look after residents and building ratings on HomeViews remained largely the same during lockdown periods.

However, as borrowing has become tougher for first time buyers, the need for good quality rental accommodation increases. BTR is perfectly placed to offer outstanding service to its residents, whether they are looking for short or long term tenancies.

10 George Street

Residents enjoying the Club Vertus social space at 10 George Street
Outdoor social space at 10 George Street

The remarkable 10 George Street development by Vertus has claimed the title of Best London BTR Development in the 2020 HomeViews Awards. This luxurious BTR scheme sits in the new Wood Wharf district, allowing residents to join a thriving community in the heart of Canary Wharf.

Resident amenities include a gym, private dining room and a stunning lounge area that opens out onto a dockside terrace. Reviewers on HomeViews regularly mention the building’s friendly and attentive management team, and even the most sceptical residents had to admit they were pleasantly surprised after moving in:

Usually you move somewhere and finally see around the edges and behind the curtain – warts and all. This has not been the case. Our time here so far has been a total pleasure and is getting better all the time.
– Tom J H, HomeViews Verified Resident, 10 George Street (Read more)

Read more

Honourable mentions

Competition for the top spot was fierce among London developments, with operators be:here, Greystar, Essential Living and Bravo making up the top five. The second position was taken by be:here Hayes – a popular BTR development of 119 units in the West London Crossrail hotspot.

Residents at Vantage Point, located right on top of Archway tube station, clearly appreciated the prime location and immaculate service from the Essential Living management team, rating the scheme into third place. Greystar’s Hounslow development Charter Place came in fourth, with The Quarters by Bravo securing a fifth place with its Croydon location.

Find the full Top 10 list below. The list starts with the award-winning 10 George Street and runs through to the joint ninth-placed Elephant Central and Montana & Dakota schemes.

2022 update: See HomeViews’ 2021 BTR Award winners

HomeViews 2022 National Build to Rent Report front cover

In November 2021, HomeViews announced their 2021 BTR Award winners, with new categories awarded and existing formats changed, to reflect the constantly evolving Build to Rent market. Canary Wharf enjoyed a strong presence in the 2021 awards, with 8 Water Street taking top spot in the capital and two other developments making the top 10.

The Quarters By Bravo also enjoyed a strong year in the capital, with two of its most popular developments, Croydon and Kilburn, ranking second and fourth respectively. The awards displayed the rich diversity and choice available in the capital’s BTR market, with developments from north, south, east and west London all featuring in the top 10.

You can get the full 2022 Build To Rent picture by downloading HomeViews’ 2022 National Build to Rent Report. Just click on the image on the right to download the report.

Top 10 BTR developments 2020 (London)

(Please note, scoring for awards was based solely on reviews from 2020. The Star ratings shown below differ from the awards scoring as they also factor in historical reviews.)

10 George Street, E14

Vertus
4.41 (65 reviews) 4.41 (65 reviews)
Area guide to Canary Wharf
Image of 10 George Street, E14

The Best BTR Development in London for 2020 is 10 George Street in Canary Wharf, with a sparkling awards score of 4.91 out of 5. This 37-storey development comprises 327 apartments overlooking waterside gardens and boardwalks below. In addition, residents have exclusive access to Club Vertus. This includes access to a 24/7 gym studio, self-service bar, private dining room and lounge which opens out onto a large, south-facing terrace.

10 George Street residents praise the small touches within the building that make them feel special, with the events programme, communal areas and concierge team gaining particularly frequent positive mentions.

Read reviews and details of 10 George Street, E14

be:here Hayes, UB3

be:here, Apo
4.66 (179 reviews) 4.66 (179 reviews)
Area guide to Hayes
Image of be:here Hayes, UB3

be:here Hayes comes second in our list of the best BTR developments in London for 2020. This popular development is part of the Old Vinyl Factory development, which offers commercial units including restaurants, leisure amenities and a music venue. The development offers outstanding transport connections, being close to Hayes & Harlington station, the M4, M25 and Heathrow Airport.

Residents praise the management team for always “going the extra mile”, and also have lots of positive things to say about the quality of fixtures and furnishings. Communal facilities and events are also a big hit with many reviewers on HomeViews.

Read reviews and details of be:here Hayes, UB3

Vantage Point, N19

Essential Living
4.62 (166 reviews) 4.62 (166 reviews)
Area guide to Holloway
Image of Vantage Point, N19

Third-placed Vantage Point is an iconic development located above Archway tube station. As well as unmatched proximity to transport options, Vantage Point offers a wide range of benefits that have kept it in the very top tier of London’s BTR developments since its opening in 2016.

As with all our best-performing BTR developments on HomeViews, building management is crucial for tenant happiness and wellbeing. One reviewer recently movingly summarised the experiences of many of the residents at Vantage Point: “To me, the staff at this building are impossible to replicate. They are not just staff. To me they are like friends and family.”

Read reviews and details of Vantage Point, N19

Charter Place, TW3

Greystar
4.57 (138 reviews) 4.57 (138 reviews)
Area guide to Hounslow
Image of Charter Place, TW3

Fourth is Charter Place in Hounslow – an INSTRATA Lifestyle Residence, managed by Greystar. It features a collection of studios, one, two, and three-bedroom rental homes. Residents have access to an onsite gym, lounge, a private dining room, and co-working spaces.

Resident reviews point to the development offering excellent value, along with good security, a great management team, 24/7 on-site gym and comfortable residents’ lounge. The landscaped gardens and views from balconies also draw regular praise from reviewers.

Read reviews and details of Charter Place, TW3

The Quarters Croydon, CR0

The Quarters by Bravo
4.76 (134 reviews) 4.76 (134 reviews)
Area guide to Croydon
Image of The Quarters Croydon, CR0

The fifth spot is claimed by short-term letting scheme The Quarters Croydon, offering residents a stylish and convenient base in the thriving South London suburb. There are 151 high-specification studios at the development, with Croydon station only a 4-minute walk away. Trains reach London Bridge in just 14 minutes, while Gatwick Airport is also easily accessible.

The “slick and responsive” management is praised by residents, along with the convenience of the location for getting into central London. Reviewers praise the cleanliness and order of communal areas, and the “high end feel” of apartments is also mentioned.

Read reviews and details of The Quarters Croydon, CR0

The Quarters Kilburn, NW6

The Quarters by Bravo
4.74 (130 reviews) 4.74 (130 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Camden
Image of The Quarters Kilburn, NW6

In at six is another development by The Quarters by Bravo, this time in Kilburn. The Quarters Kilburn is located close to Little Venice, Abbey Road, Regent’s Park and Lord’s Cricket Ground. Just 5 minutes from Kilburn Park station, residents also have easy access to central London with Euston only a 7-minute journey away.

Reviewers describe the apartments as “stunning” and “spacious”, praising the management team for its patient and responsive service. The good value of these homes was also highlighted, with reviewers mentioning the quality of the build and not being able to hear neighbours.

Read reviews and details of The Quarters Kilburn, NW6

Fizzy Canning Town, E16

Fizzy Living, Greystar
4.33 (188 reviews) 4.33 (188 reviews)
Area guide to Canning Town
Image of Fizzy Canning Town, E16

Fizzy Living is a regular feature on our Top 10 lists, and Fizzy Canning Town takes seventh place in our 2020 list of Top London Developments. This extremely pet-friendly development offers residents one, two, or three bedroom apartments in a multi-storey building. The scheme forms part of the larger Vermillion development, which is a few minutes’ walk from Canning Town Station.

One recent resident review shows why Fizzy Canning Town sits among London’s finest BTR schemes: “Fizzy is not just a building with an exceptional property management service, but a proper home with friends at your doorstep. Especially this year, which has been tough for everyone, I have been completely overwhelmed by Fizzy’s random acts of kindness and support.”

Read reviews and details of Fizzy Canning Town, E16

Union Wharf, SE8

Essential Living
4.60 (197 reviews) 4.60 (197 reviews)
Area guide to Deptford
Image of Union Wharf, SE8

Joining its sister development in the list is Essential Living’s Union Wharf development, taking the eighth spot. This scheme of 249 BTR apartments sits on the banks of Deptford Creek near Greenwich’s town centre. The nearby Cutty Sark DLR station provides fast and frequent connections to Canary Wharf.

As with Vantage Point residents, Union Wharf reviewers highlight the top quality building management and rooftop communal spaces and events. Union Wharf is also pet-friendly, providing furry residents with a warm welcome.

Read reviews and details of Union Wharf, SE8

Elephant Central, SE1

Get Living
4.41 (138 reviews) 4.41 (138 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Elephant Central, SE1

Tied in joint ninth place is Essential Living’s Elephant Central development in Elephant and Castle. The Zone 1 location provides great connections to the City, Oxford Circus, King’s Cross and is walking distance to London Bridge, Borough and the South Bank. There’s a mix of stylish one to three bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses available fully-furnished, with superfast WiFi included, and it’s also pet friendly.

Dogs owners praise the development’s communal gardens, and many reviewers mention the resident events and the quality of the interior design within the apartments.

Read reviews and details of Elephant Central, SE1

Montana & Dakota, Wembley Park, HA9

VervLife
4.08 (56 reviews) 4.08 (56 reviews)
Area guide to Wembley
Image of Montana & Dakota, Wembley Park, HA9

Also in joint ninth place is Quintain Living’s Montana & Dakota development in Wembley Park. One of a number of highly-rated Quintain Living developments in the area, Montana & Dakota offers a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to facilities including a residents gym and hireable cinema room.

Reviewers praise the quality of the furnishings and apartment interiors, as well as the good value offered by the development. Residents mention the care Quintain Living provided during lockdown periods and regularly mention how responsive the on-site teams are.

Read reviews and details of Montana & Dakota, Wembley Park, HA9

Gain comprehensive insights from the largest dataset collated on the new build tenant experience to date. The FREE 2021 National Build to Rent Report draws upon reviews of 131 BTR developments – 47% of currently-occupied UK BTR developments. Register now to be the first to receive this unparalleled report in January 2021.

What is HomeViews?

HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.

written by

Hannah Marsh

Prior to co-founding HomeViews, Hannah gained 12 years of senior marketing ex... Read all

Prior to co-founding HomeViews, Hanna... Read all