Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dasco-australia">DASCO</a> has pushed beyond the now-standard inclusions of rooftop pools and landscaped podiums at its recently launched new Epping project, Senso.

It has laid out over 4,000 sqm of resident-only amenity in a move designed to compete directly with low-density housing on livability, not just density. The result is a development that supports genuine daily use through purposeful spaces distributed across its five-building, 479-apartment precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4396]

Two rooftop pools form the anchor of Senso. One is a 27-metre lap pool adjoining a heated spa, designed for everyday fitness rather than just summer leisure. The second sits on a lower podium, allowing different buildings to share in vertical access and reducing crowding during peak times.

It is the secondary spaces that start to distinguish Senso from other large-scale suburban projects. A rooftop cinema is integrated into a landscaped terrace, offering open-air screenings with natural ventilation and passive cooling.&nbsp;

The inclusion of a “sensory walk”, an elevated boardwalk that threads through the site, suggests a rare investment in non-commercial, non-essential amenity: space for quiet movement that doesn’t double as access or traffic circulation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4402]

The gym and wellness centre, often relegated to a small ground-floor room in many builds, takes on more substance here. Residents have access to a fully equipped gym, as well as outdoor yoga areas and meditative zones that integrate greenery and natural light.&nbsp;

The Club Lounge is similarly designed to support multiple use cases, with a private dining terrace, kitchenette, workspace, and lockable wine storage. These aren’t superficial additions; their scale and spatial allocation indicate serious intent for frequent resident use.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4391]

Importantly, Senso’s amenities are embedded within a site that spans more than 10,000 sqm, allowing for better separation between spaces and reduced noise spillover, a critical but often overlooked factor in high-density developments. This spatial generosity also enables multiple alfresco kitchens and communal terraces without compromising individual privacy or usable space.

While many developments make claims about lifestyle, few back it with this level of built infrastructure. Senso’s mix of dedicated fitness, wellness, social and passive green spaces suggests a conscious response to the post-pandemic shift in housing expectations, especially among owner-occupiers.&nbsp;

DASCO is one of several leading developers who have taken out Resilience Insurance's Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing buyers with a 10-year structural and waterproofing warranty, and giving them the ultimate peace of mind.

Senso is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134954]

Staff Writer

The outdoor amenities elevating life at Senso, Epping

Following the proposal by the Minns Labor Government to rezone Parramatta Road to create up to 8,000 new homes, prominent developer Ceerose has gone to the NSW Gov to increase the density of its new mixed-use residential building in Leichhardt.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/ceerose">Ceerose</a>, founded by Edward Doueihi nearly three decades ago, has filed plans for 154 apartments above ground-floor retail at 307-315 Parramatta Road, a key corner site near Norton Street, the main high street strip in Leichhardt.

It's an upsize from the previously approved scheme of 63 apartments across a seven-storey building.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba1ae75b-5f08-43fb-b8d5-3de6d9f6ef71" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.39%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yA3hBBLPH4ev7MsAE0_hieXeqiFqBUb7" />

The project is being advanced through the State Significant Development (SSD) pathway, with concurrent rezoning sought to facilitate the proposal. The 10-storey development would rise over a four-level basement and deliver two retail tenancies, one a larger-format offering and the other a smaller “hole in the wall” space, addressing the Parramatta Road frontage. 21 of the apartments are dedicated as affordable housing.

According to the Urban Design Report by Architecture AND, the scheme includes a podium and tower configuration, with a fine-grain, two-storey parapet street wall that references the traditional shopfront rhythm along the corridor. “An elegant tower form is proposed, combined with a characterful two storey frontage... articulating it as two related buildings, providing consistency with the rhythm and grain of Parramatta Road,” the report notes.

The residential component is split across two slender towers set back from the street edge, a design move aimed at preserving solar access and reducing perceived bulk. This massing strategy also seeks to improve residential amenity by focusing scale toward the quieter northern interface, away from Parramatta Road’s noise and pollution.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="347f2f8f-5d36-4388-b40a-2e77380b9c19" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.02%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=xvyUE2ujT1lzivXTo.mHBJFF4SmfgLtz" />

Architecture AND has worked with Ceerose on previous Inner West projects, and cites a deep familiarity with the local character. Their design draws heavily on context, heritage, and sunlight access considerations, and engages with the Inner West Council’s “Our Fairer Future” strategic planning framework.

The site spans 2,712 sqm and is located near key intersections with Catherine Street, Hay Street, and Redmond Street. It adjoins a public carpark to the north and is within walking distance of Stanmore and Petersham stations. It is also flagged in state and local planning strategies, including the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, as a suitable candidate for increased density.

Ceerose recently completed The Alex Collective on McEvoy Street in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay.

The Parramatta Road corridor is coming to life with the proposed rezoning which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes.

Deicorp is progressing with its $1.8 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> precinct on Parramatta Road in Five Dock, as is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/toga-to-push-on-with-five-dock-mixed-use-masterplan">TOGA further down the street</a>. Those two projects alone will bring nearly 2,000 new homes to Parramatta Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Ceerose plots mixed-use Leichhardt development on Parramatta Road

North Sydney's landmark 'SBS Building' on Alfred Street is set to be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use residential tower in the booming North Sydney.

Commercial property group FiveX is behind the plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">39-storey tower</a>, the latest project to advance under the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

They are proposing 184 apartments above retail spaces, which will replace the existing 20-storey commercial building. FiveX was set up more than five decades ago by Joshua and Marko Berger. It is currently led by Joshua's son Lesli.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower at 275 Alfred Street, North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2efa0980-53fa-4cca-9f9e-9c3c845d4746" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29%20%281%29_0.png?VersionId=y_YyPMq3NQLfYRs84pP4os9UgWiMLp75" />

According to the Architectural Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">FJC Studio</a>, the slender tower form has been deliberately designed to respect the site's transitional setting at the southern gateway to the North Sydney CBD, where high-rise towers give way to lower-scale residential precincts.

"The slender tower form and articulated podium establish a respectful relationship with nearby heritage and low rise buildings, including the Whaling Road Heritage Conservation Area,” the architecture firm noted, adding that the tower “completes a missing link in the urban fabric” while enhancing the Alfred Street streetscape.

The proposed building will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 15 percent of the gross residential floor area allocated as affordable housing. There is an agreement already in place that those apartments will be managed by Evolve Housing.

The project aligns with broader state housing objectives, including the National Housing Accord target of delivering 1.2 million new homes by 2029. The Scoping Report filed with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) suggests the site "presents no impediments to rapid delivery,” with construction able to commence within 12 months of receiving consent.

North Sydney has been one of the most popular suburbs in Sydney for new and off the plan apartment development, but hasn't had the supply to keep up with demand, until recently.

AURA by Aqualand was, for a long time, the only off the plan apartment building on the market. That completed last year, and has sold the majority of its 386 luxury apartments. Recently ALAND launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> on the same street, selling over $100 million within just a few hours of its launch, while developer CASA also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a>&nbsp;in the same precinct.

First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney

Kokoda Property Group has announced the Sydney-based Versatile Construction as the builder for its landmark $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a> precinct.

Construction of the 17,612 sqm site is scheduled to commence in December 2025 and is expected to be delivered in stages from 2028. Once complete, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a> will comprise 212 residences across four architecturally distinct buildings, alongside Brisbane’s first Kimpton Hotel, extensive retail, hospitality, and wellness amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139896 project_image_fid=295098]

Kokoda Property Group Founder and Managing Director, Mark Stevens, said appointing Versatile Construction marks a significant milestone for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a>.

“Partnering with Versatile Construction gives us confidence in delivering a precinct that sets a new benchmark for luxury living, curated experiences and vibrant riverfront activation," Stevens said.

"Together, we will bring the vision for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a> to life, creating a destination that residents and visitors will enjoy for generations."

Throughout the construction phase, more than 2,000 jobs will be created, supporting hundreds of local contractors and suppliers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139896 project_image_fid=352274]

Marco Fahd, Chairman &amp; CEO at Versatile Group, said the company is looking forward to&nbsp;expanding their footprint in the state, taking on their inaugural project in Brisbane.

"We are proud of the unwavering commitment our team of experts have to quality and certainty in delivery and are excited to work with Kokoda to bring their vision for this unique project to life," Fahd says.

Sales reached $285 million on the launch of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a>, with sales momentum continuing to "exceed all expectations."

Stevens says the overwhelming response from buyers validated the group’s vision for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a>.

“The demand for a luxury product in this enclave has been extraordinary, we’ve never seen anything like it before. It reinforces everything we’re doing around quality, design, and creating genuine lifestyle precincts. Buyers are recognising the enduring value of Brisbane’s riverfront and are responding to the opportunity to live within a world-class destination that celebrates both place and lifestyle.”

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139896]

Kokoda appoints builder for $1.5 billion Teneriffe Banks waterfront precinct

Castle Hill’s booming development market is set for another boost, with builder-developer Buildex proposing a new mid-rise apartment building near Castle Towers.

Buildex has submitted plans to The Hills Shire Council for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/197-old-northern-road-castle-hill-nsw-2154">nine-storey building comprising 57 apartments</a> on Old Northern Road. The company acquired two adjoining sites earlier this year, totalling more than 2,683 sqm.

Texco Design has prepared the scheme, which includes five one-bed plus study apartments, 37 two-bedrooms, and 15 three-bedrooms.

Castle Hill has become a hotspot for developers in recent years, undergoing significant transformation driven by the opening of the Hills Showground Precinct to development and the introduction of two metro stations servicing the suburb.

Developers including Deicorp and Kassis Homes have already completed projects, and are progressing future developments, while Meriton, Arada, and Ellipse are currently delivering new projects in the rapidly evolving area.

First look: Buildex plans 57 apartments near Castle Towers

Rental Bond

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SPONSORED POST
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">
 
Younger people face discrimination based on their age - that is, they're worried their rental applications won't be accepted, and that their landlords won't trust them because of their limited rental history.
Landlords can be reluctant to leave their property with younger people, because these young tenants cannot prove they have successfully rented before.
A new start-up called <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>, is changing this dynamic by allowing tenants to share their online reputations to prove their trustworthiness. Trustbond measures trustworthiness using online data including networks, ratings and reviews from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Airbnb, eBay and Uber to determine a tenant’s TrustScore.      
“Online reputation is the loyal handshake of today. A new kind of trust, based on the principles of old. Every time we connect online with someone to shop, sell, ride share, house share and interact within an online community we are earning trust and building reputation. We are showing our character and the type of people we are. This reputation can be used to prove trust in new contexts like renting,” Trustbond Country Manager, Will Soutar, said.
Based on focus groups conducted by George Patterson Y&amp;R, in May 2017:
-       70% of participants said  "I would trust somebody based on their digital reputation."
-       90% of participants said "I believe my digital reputation is an accurate reflection of who I actually am." 
Trustbond enables tenants to harness their digital reputation to help rent a home. Tenants can easily build a free online reputation profile that can be easily shared with agents and landlords to build trust. Trustworthy tenants can replace the cash bond with a Trustbond for a small premium.TRUSTBOND
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
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spost-fCfKtoCdFu

How to trust the young first time renters? 

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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">                           
A world-first technology will make renting more accessible to trustworthy Australians and save them thousands of dollars in the process.
Fintech company Traity has partnered with Australia’s leading landlord insurance specialist Terri Scheer Insurance to this month launch <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>. Trustbond lets tenants avoid paying a traditional bond and instead pay a premium, which is a proportion of the rent paid for the term of the lease.
Instead of paying what can often be thousands of dollars up front renters instead would pay as little as hundreds. A renter paying a $2000 bond would instead pay a one off fee of $250. It covers the same breaches of a tenancy agreement including unpaid rent, damage, broken leases and associated costs.
Trustbond uses blockchain to measure the potential trustworthiness of a renter using data from social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Airbnb, eBay and Uber to determine a tenant's TrustScore. 
“In addition to the financial incentives, Trustbond is a better way for tenants to show who they really are. Tenants can use their online accounts to show they are trustworthy. It’s a way to build stronger relationships between tenants, landlords and property managers based on trust,” Traity Country Manager, Will Soutar, said. 
There are also key incentives for landlords to choose tenants who are eligible for Trustbond.      
“Trustbond is based on the premise that only tenants with a high TrustScore are eligible,” said Terri Scheer Insurance Executive Manager, Ms Carolyn Parrella.
“Landlords who use Trustbond can save time with automatic verification and screening, fill their properties faster by appealing to a broader pool of tenants and make better decisions for tenant selection.”                                                        
“Trustbond also gives landlords and property managers the ability to rate and review tenants. This encourages tenants to be responsible and motivates them to take care of their landlord’s property, in order to keep their TrustScore high.”
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
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World-first digital technology to end cash rental bonds                         

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SPONSORED POST
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">
One of the main challenges in the landlord-tenant relationship comes from the asymmetry of information.
Rental history can be unreliable and limited. There is also minimal risk to a tenant’s reputation if they misbehave in a tenancy.
At the same time, Airbnb hosts accept guests with ease, and those guests most often leave the property in mint condition? Why is that, and how can it be replicated in the traditional long- term rental industry? 
Review systems like Airbnb serve two purposes. One focuses on the past, and one on the future. 
1. The past: Reviews help landlords select trustworthy guests, and filter out the bad guests. The references or reviews cannot be easily manipulated because they are transparent and have been explicitly written by other hosts in the past.
2. The future: The guests have a lot to lose if they don't behave well with the property. A bad review from the landlord could limit their ability to rent new homes in the future. 
<a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a> is helping Australian landlords use reputation reviews from Airbnb, eBay, Uber, LinkedIn and many others to the complement tenancy applications. This gives landlords much more accurate information about the trustworthiness of the tenant and their previous behaviors.
A TrustScore is generated for the tenant to use now and in the future. This creates a fundamentally different incentive for tenants to behave well in the property, since bad behavior will affect their Trustbond TrustScore in the future.
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
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Aussie landlords using ratings, reviews like Airbnb to verify tenants

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SPONSORED POST
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">
 
According to figures from the NSW Rental Bond Board for 2015 to 2016, it held nearly 80,000 residential rental bonds, totalling $1.31 billion.
A new startup has launched in Australia and is positioned to change the way we have always managed house rental bonds.
“Cash rental bonds are a medieval form of protection. They are one of the most inefficient forms of insurance, because tenants are forced to pay for everything that could go wrong up-front. Tenants freeze up to 6 weeks of rent in a cash bond and this causes great financial stress and also limits access to homes and opportunity,” said Traity Country Manager, Will Soutar.
“<a href="https://trustbond.com.au" target="_blank">Trustbond</a> is a surety bond that protects the landlord for the same amount as the traditional bond, but only costs a fraction to tenants as a relatively small fee. No loans, no interest. Just an efficient form of protection.” 
In the same way that Uber enables people who don't own a car to get the service of “Access to private transportation, any time, anywhere”, Trustbond enables landlords to get the full protection of a bond without blocking the cash-flow of tenants. It is a win-win.
The Company started operations in Australia in August and the surety bond is underwritten by AAI Limited, the insurer behind Terri Scheer, the renowned landlord protection insurance Company. They have launched in South Australia, and will be moving to other Australian states soon.
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
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Is this the Uber of apartment and house rental bonds?

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SPONSORED POST
 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/05/Trustbond%20logo1%20small.png" alt="">
 
While some cities in the country have a buoyant rental market, like Sydney, other cities like Brisbane and Adelaide are suffering, due to the high availability of rental properties and limited demand. 
Your conditions:
Typically, your only lever when you negotiate the conditions of your property is the price. Your tenant wants low, you want high, and it’s a win-lose situation for both. However, there are other things you can offer to make the property more appealing to tenants without touching the price and losing money. 
A new startup called <a href="https://trustbond.com.au" target="_blank">Trustbond</a> is enabling tenants to replace the rental bond with a surety bond that gives landlords protection without needing to freeze cash. This allows landlords to significantly reduce the outlay for tenants.
It is attractive to tenants because it gives them more cash-flow on day-one and landlords still get the same exact protection.
Between 2 properties of similar characteristics, one offering Trustbond and other one not offering it, which property do you think the tenant will take?
Your reputation:
The tenancy process has always been asymmetric in nature. The landlord requests reputational information from the tenant until they are satisfied. However, in a slow market, tenants have choices available to them. How can you differentiate?
There are as many tenant horror stories, as there are landlord horror stories, so what about showing your own reputation to the tenant? Proving that you are a good landlord and will take care of your tenant can go a long way. You can use platforms like Trustbond where you can share landlord reviews to show you are a trustworthy landlord on your own ad. Advertise yourself!
For more information, watch the video below or go to <a href="https://trustbond.com.au/" target="_blank">Trustbond</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlzfGI_7cJE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe>
</body></html>

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