Du Cane Court paved the way for today’s build to rent

The recent wave of build to rent schemes, which boast modern interiors and luxury facilities, have hit the headlines as being innovative new developments.

specification with interiors ahead of their time. Every apartment boasted its very own electric clock and radio and a resident manager lived on the premises in order to attend to the needs of residents. Rather exclusively every floor had its own private phone booth (quite the calling of its time) and residents could draw on the luxury of extended apartment services at only
an hour’s notice. Services incorporated hotel-style cleaning, linen change, concierge, butler errands and shoe shine. Residents also enjoyed exclusive access to the top floor restaurant and bar enjoying 360-degree views of London and a private Du Cane Court Members’ Club with extensive facilities.

However, it may come as a surprise to some that build to rent schemes were first pioneered decades ago. Mansion blocks like Du Cane Court in Balham were developed in the 1930s in response to the demand for decent quality, fit for purpose rental accommodation. Built in 1937 in the iconic Art Deco style that was flourishing at the time, and completed in just one year, Du Cane Court is one of the first build to rent schemes of its kind and has become a local landmark in itself, even featuring in an episode of the popular television series, Poirot.

Du Cane Court comprises 676 one, two, three and four bedroom apartments and is the largest private block in Europe under one roof. It is one of the few Art Deco developments in London to retain a 24-hour concierge. Housing around 1,300 people and with a strong community feel, it is one of London’s first build to rent success stories.
Read the full article in the Allsop Magazine