The next wave of renters is here. Gen Zers are the most rapidly growing demographic of renters in the country. Already, they make up 27% of renters, and in 2021 alone, apartment applications from Gen Z renters increased by 13%.

To run a successful property in the 2020s, you must appeal to Gen Z renters. Focus on updating existing amenities or offering new apartment amenities that target Gen Zers’ preferences. In no time, you’ll capture their attention and turn them into loyal residents.

What Amenities Are Important to Gen Zers?

Gen Z renters are focused on efficiency and convenience. They prefer modern amenities that streamline their daily routines, rather than traditional amenities like theater rooms and resident lounges.

Making changes to your property now will set you up for success in the coming years. Appealing to Gen Z will ensure that your property’s units stay full and resident turnover stays low.

For help navigating the best amenities to bring more Gen Z prospects to your property, read on. We’ve outlined the five amenities that Gen Z renters can’t resist.

Top 5 Amenities to Attract Gen Z Renters

(1) High-Speed Internet

Guaranteeing fast internet at your property is more important than ever. A large percentage of Gen Zers work remote or hybrid jobs. They rely on steady, speedy WiFi for optimal job performance.

Because of this, surveys have found that Gen Z overwhelmingly lists high-speed internet as the number one amenity they expect at their apartments. In fact, they prefer high-speed internet over good laundry facilities, social spaces, fitness centers, and even convenient parking options.

The digital age has turned high-speed internet access into a necessity for full-time remote and hybrid workers. Gen Zers are more likely to work at home at least one day per week than any generation.

To attract and retain Gen Z residents, you have to make sure your property has hassle-free access to speedy and reliable internet.

(2) Outdoor Space

Most Gen Z renters have entered the housing market within the last two years. How they approach searching for a place has been largely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, many prioritize finding a spacious apartment that will not feel claustrophobic during long periods at home.

You might not be able to make your building’s units bigger, but you can make efforts to build up an outdoor space like a rooftop deck, a communal balcony, or a community garden. Allowing residents to be outside without having to leave their building will attract many Gen Zers.

Additionally, having an established communal space will make it easier to plan and market resident events.

(3) Coworking Spaces

In the last five years, demand for coworking spaces has taken off. Remote workers want a public space to work in occasionally to break up the monotony of their home offices. So, consider renovating an unused business center or lounge into a trendy coworking space.

Just a few days of redecoration can transform a dated room into a high-traffic area at your property. Give the room a fresh coat of paint and invest in the right furniture, including a mix of comfy armchairs, ergonomic office chairs, and desks. If you already have a business center, substitute archaic desktop computers with free desk space for residents to place their own work laptops.

Want to make the area even more attractive to Gen Z residents and prospects?

• Add a free coffee bar.
• Place a wireless router directly in the room to guarantee fast, reliable internet.
• Add a small recreational activity space like a ping pong or pool table for residents to cool off and take a break.

(4) Modern, Reliable Security Measures

Fostering a safe feeling at home could be the difference between creating a long-term resident or losing a renter after one year.

Tech-powered security amenities like smart locks on unit doors and a video intercom at the front entrance that connects to your residents’ smartphones will go a long way towards ensuring that your residents feel safe.

Security goes beyond personal safety, though!

Gen Z renters do a majority of their shopping online and want the assurance that their packages will be securely delivered.

Installing a package room or a package locker system gives your residents peace of mind and will decrease package theft and loss. Guaranteeing that residents’ deliveries will be safe and secure will draw in a significant number of Gen Z applicants.

(5) Eco-Friendly Buildings

Generation Z is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. They’re more aware than any other generation of their environmental impact. So, transforming your property into a sustainable building will attract many Gen Z renters who want their homes to be eco-friendly.

The best way to create a sustainable building is to build with environmentally-friendly protocols in place.

But it’s entirely possible to transform your existing property into a green building by:

• Shifting to sustainable energy sources like solar panels to balance or even outweigh your use of coal and gas energy.
• Incentivizing residents to participate in sustainable habits by providing opportunities to recycle and compost.
• Investing in ride share and bike share programs to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions from your resident’s cars. This will also be a huge convenience for any of your residents without cars!

Overall, Gen Zers want to take part in halting climate change. Giving them that chance at your property will draw in many prospective residents.

In summary, Gen Z is on track to comprise the largest portion of renters within the next ten years. Implementing Gen Z-focused amenities now will set your property up to thrive and be highly desirable for the foreseeable future.