Melbourne’s Local: Residential partners with Koala to furnish first Built-to-Rent development

Melbourne-based Built-to-Rent platform and certified B Corp, Local: Residential, has announced a partnership with iconic Australian brand and fellow B-Corp, Koala, to furnish apartments in its inaugural development in Kensington, Melbourne.
The development, Local: Kensington, is set to be ready for renters from August this year.

Over 100 of the 477 apartments will be available to rent fully furnished, including beds, mattresses, side tables, bedside tables, couches, dining tables, chairs and entertainment units, providing convenience for tenants looking to move without the hassle of furnishing their apartment.
Local: Kensington renters will also receive exclusive deals on Koala products.

Matt Berg, Founder and Co-CEO of Local: Residential, said the partnership with Koala is a natural fit, grounded in shared values and ethos of being good for people and the planet.
“This exciting B-Corp partnership will make moving convenient and seamless for many of our renters once Local: Kensington is complete later this year,” Berg said.

Koala’s Chief Operating Officer, Vicki Slavina, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating that it represents more than just a business partnership.
“With Local’s commitment to quality and community and our innovative and sustainable furniture solutions, we’re excited to create homes where comfort, style and environmentally conscious living thrive,” Slavina said.

Local: Kensington, located on the corner of Macaulay Road and Stubbs Street, will include a range of resident amenities such as a pool, lounge, coworking space, private dining rooms, gym and wellness studios, a big screen room, artist’s studio and dog friendly outdoor spaces.

Local’s mission is to reshape the way Australians think about housing by using homes as a vehicle to create positive change.
Each Local building is designed to be Net Zero in operations and fully electric.
The project also delivers on Local’s impact housing commitment, with 42 apartments being allocated to key workers, specialist disability accommodation and housing for women over the age of 55 experiencing or at-risk of becoming homeless.

Both Koala and Local: Residential are certified B Corp businesses, sharing the mission of building a sustainable future.
Koala partners with 1% for the Planet and the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), donating from most product sales, and uses 100% Forest Stewardship Council-certified Timber and 100% Responsible Wool for their products.