At Smarter Services, we believe it’s crucial to make the Build to Rent market more sustainable; able to meet national and international regulatory and legislative requirements. As a facilities management provider, with a sustainable approach, we can make a big difference across Build to Rent supply chains. This article outlines our approach to supporting the sector, and transparently reporting our ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) data, and sustainability practices to an international gold standard, whilst creating value, and reinforcing the quality of the services we provide.
How Facilities Management is Changing the Build to Rent Market
The Build to Rent sector has grown substantially in recent years, as more and more people are renting, especially in big cities. As this trend continues, we’ve seen a shift from just providing basic housing to creating sustainable communities where people want to live. Our job as facility managers is key to making this happen.
Our Director, Kye Gbangbola, puts it this way:
“At Smarter Services, we understand the profound impact ESG has on business, strategy, thinking and performance. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to not only provide exceptional facilities management services, but to do so in a manner that prioritises sustainability, transparency, and accountability.”
This statement really underscores how we’ve gone from simply maintaining buildings, to being a strategic partner in achieving sustainability goals for our clients in the Build to Rent sector.
Key Areas of Sustainable Impact
Our comprehensive approach to FM touches every aspect of Build to Rent operations. We’ve identified five key areas where we drive sustainability:
- Energy Efficiency and Emissions: we are developing improved energy efficient practice, such as transforming our fleet of petrol and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles. Our Carbon Reduction Plan is a commitment to achieve net zero by 2045, in advance of Climate Change Act requirements.
- Health and Safety: Construction sector injuries and death are on the increase, our ISO management systems, and procedures create a culture that puts people before profit, and a safer working environment for our people.
- Waste Management: We’ve developed innovative waste reduction and recycling programmes. A prime example is our composting centre, which processes organic waste from our landscaping teams and turns it into something useful. Not only minimising our environmental impact, but also creating valuable resources from what would otherwise be waste.
- Sustainable Procurement: Recognising the ripple effect of our supply chain decisions, we’ve increased our use of chemical-free cleaning products from 5% to 28% in just one year. This significant increase demonstrates our commitment to promoting sustainability from the ground up.
- Resident Wellbeing: We create and maintain healthy, comfortable living environments that directly contribute to resident satisfaction and retention – key metrics for Build to Rent success. Things like our community orchards and peace gardens, improve resident wellbeing and encourage them to engage with their community.
Commitment to Comprehensive Sustainability Reporting
We believe that to manage something well, you need to measure it. Which is why we’ve embraced comprehensive sustainability reporting, to provide us with a structured framework to communicate our progress, and identify, mitigate, prevent, and be accountable for our impacts.
We report to the world’s leading sustainability reporting standard known as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). We meet the requirements of the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). GRI enables us to drive performance, access investment, and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through evidence and data, we look beyond our immediate operations and consider the broader impact of our activities, including supply chain considerations.
Our first GRI sustainability report, written with the support of the sustainability consultant Total Eco Management, marked a significant milestone in our journey. As noted in the report:
“Our first sustainability report, written to a global gold standard, stands as testimony to the achievements and culture of the people that work at Smarter Services.”
This detailed level of reporting helps our Build to Rent clients in several ways:
1. It builds trust with residents, investors, and other stakeholders, by being transparent about what we’re doing.
2. It helps us identify and mitigate sustainability risks in the supply chain.
3. The reporting process pushes us to find new and better ways of doing things.
4. It sets us apart from other companies in the competitive Build to Rent market.
Practical Sustainability Initiatives
We believe the true test of our role in sustainable supply comes in our day-to-day operations within Build-to-Rent developments. Just a few examples of how we’re making rental properties more sustainable include:
- Volunteering time and Materials: At Smarter Services we call this ‘Delivering Quality with our Hands and Hearts’. An example is a ‘DIY SOS’ type project carried out for Warming Up the Homeless; an award-winning charity that supports homeless people across the south coast. The Charity’s main Centre in Hastings had its kitchens, dining room, and corridor, damaged by the floods in 2024. Working with the Centre Manager and the local homeless community we agreed a plan. Smarter Services staff, managers, and special operatives, cleared the flood debris, cleaned, addressed the fungus and mould, replaced rotten doors, and got Environmental Health Officer sign off. Our team proceeded with repairs, fixtures and fittings, redecoration, and clean, throughout we maintained the centres operations, to service the homeless.
- Community Orchards: At our Bicester project in Oxfordshire, we created an orchard where residents can harvest fruits at no cost. Promoting biodiversity and helping local wildlife, while bringing the community together.
- On-site Composting: We turn organic waste from our landscaping teams into valuable compost, reducing site waste as well as operational costs.
- Creative Use of Space: We’ve developed peace gardens with resident-made seating, turning unused areas into spaces that are good for mental health and community spirit.
These projects show how we go beyond just managing facilities to create value for residents, property owners, and the environment.
Looking to the Future: Leading Change in Building Management
We expect our role in making Build to Rent properties sustainable, to become even more important in the future. So, we’re focusing on several key trends:
- Circularity: We’re looking at ways to reuse and recycle materials in rental properties, from choosing materials to dealing with old building parts.
- Using Technology: We’re increasing our use of IoT, AI, and data analytics to make work easier, quicker, higher quality, more efficient, make ticket tracking and invoicing more efficient, and make transparent reporting of performance better for customers and clients. It would also facilitate the maintenance of homes to the latest legislative standards. By engaging with resident’s, we can enable clients to predict maintenance needs before they become an issue.
- Biodiversity Net Gain: As government regulations around biodiversity become stricter, we’re focusing on maintaining and improving green spaces.
- Community Engagement: We’re increasingly acting as a link between residents and property owners, helping residents start their own sustainability projects.
As our Director Kye Gbangbola notes:
“By being socially conscious and commercially astute, we are constantly working to meet the changing needs of our clients and stakeholders. This ability to adapt has been the key to creating long-term value and will be critical to continued success in the years to come.”
Our Commitment to Sustainable Build to Rent
At Smarter Services, we believe the future of Build to Rent is intrinsically linked to sustainability, and we’re proud to be leading this change. By tracking our progress with sustainability reporting, embracing innovation and technology in our day-to-day operations, and always looking for ways to create value beyond traditional services. Our careful blend of traditional, and niche services; addressing specific client needs, are shaping a more sustainable, resilient, and socially responsible built environment.
As the sector continues to change, we’re committed to leading the way in sustainability. We’re not just adapting to change; we’re actively shaping the future. We’re working to ensure that the Build to Rent sector not only meets people’s housing needs, but also positively contributes to our communities and the planet.
Our journey towards a sustainable future in Build to Rent is ongoing, and we look forward to the opportunities and positive impacts that lie ahead. We encourage other businesses to think about how they can use their unique skills and resources to support sustainability and make a difference in their own sectors. Together, we can create more than just well-maintained spaces – we can bring about positive change in our communities and for our environment.
- annual sustainability report
Net Zero by 2045
Smarter Services is committed to improving quality of life by meeting the needs of society. That’s what we’ve done since we were established in 2006. As the world evolves, so do we.
We are constantly working to meet the changing needs of our clients and stakeholders. This ability to adapt has been the key to creating long-term shareholder value and will be critical to continued success in the years to come. Sustainability at Smarter Services is integrated into what we do and core to our corporate strategy.
