The last decade has seen the rise of increasingly smarter versions of the things we use on a daily basis, from phones and watches to TVs, cars, appliances, and more. With a simple tap on our phones or voice command to Alexa, Siri, or Google, we’re able to control and automate things that enhance our convenience and comfort. And once accustomed to the ease and speed of this technology, it’s hard to go back. That’s why it should come as no surprise that today’s multifamily residents expect to have smart home connectivity in their apartments—and many are willing to pay more for it. 

For owners and developers who want to offer smart home features in their new construction projects or upgrade their existing properties, here are a few things we’d like to share. 

What’s considered a smart home?

Typically, a property owner will want to offer a minimum of (3) devices that are connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) to be considered a “smart home” that justifies higher rent when marketing the community. These devices could be a mix of things like door locks, interior or exterior lighting, thermostats, blinds/shades, smart switches/outlets, or leak detection, just […]

Recently the state of Colorado enacted legislation that imposes new lease restrictions for owners/landlords.  Among other things, Colorado House Bill 23-1095 limits the types of fees and charges that can be considered as part of rent, and provides guidelines for tenant fee markups or third-party service charges. We want to make our clients aware of this change, as it impacts the method for charging residents for internet, television, or other broadband services you may provide for your assets located in Colorado.

1. Prohibition of Additional Amounts and Fees as Rent: Under the new statute, owners are prohibited from designating any amount or fee (apart from the set monthly payment for occupying the premises) as “rent.” This means that remedies to collect rent, such as eviction, can only be applied to the agreed-upon monthly rent and cannot extend to other charges. This includes fees for utilities or services and any charge that is not explicitly classified as rent.
2. Prohibition of Tenant Fee Markup or Third-Party Service Charges: The statute also imposes limitations on fee markups or charges for services for which the owner is billed by a third party. The amount charged may not exceed two percent of the […]
   

Telecom service offerings in multifamily continue to transform to meet the demands of today’s residents. We want to take the opportunity to update an article posted two years ago with the latest provider offerings and to educate our clients about relatively new products you may begin to hear about in our industry.  

Wi-Fi is truly the unsung hero holding the modern household together. From streaming TV and working from home, to powering your smart thermostat or Roomba – Wi-Fi is a must-have. Under a traditional choice model where the owner may or may not have a marketing agreement in place with the telecom provider, each resident is purchasing their own wireless modem or renting it from the provider themselves. However, there are five other categories of owner-sponsored Wi-Fi that help your properties and residents stay connected:

Internet Ready – a no-cost option, this is a Wi-Fi router setup in the apartment for convenience when a new resident moves in, so they can connect and sign up for services in minutes without a technician appointment or picking up equipment.

In Unit Modem-Based Wi-Fi – traditionally referred to as bulk Internet, with this option there is no construction, in-unit access or capital expense to […]