Qualitas development demonstrates potential for build-to-rent sustainability
Dedicated fund boosts clean, green rental housing
Real estate investment management firm Qualitas created Australia’s first property debt fund to elevate minimum sustainability criteria into its investment criteria. The Qualitas Build-to-Rent Impact Fund was also Australia’s first dedicated build-to-rent debt platform.
$125m
CEFC finance
Sustainability
for tenants
7.5 Star
NatHERS rating
A cleaner, greener built environment offers long-term benefits for investors and the community because of the significant low carbon dividend. Energy efficient housing can reduce pressure on the electricity grid, while attracting a growing number of residents who value the benefits of more comfortable housing, lower energy bills, and a lighter carbon footprint.Ian LearmonthCEO, CEFC
Our investment
The CEFC made a cornerstone commitment of up to $125 million to the Qualitas Build-to-Rent Impact Fund (QBIF) in 2020 to finance housing that met strong sustainability standards and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by at least 35 per cent compared with the current building code.
The first project backed through QBIF was a 265-apartment residential, office and retail project at Cordelia Street in South Brisbane. Developer Arklife used state-of-the-art sustainable design principles and features to achieve a 7.5-star NatHERS rating. Cordelia Street was completed in 2025 and the CEFC was repaid in July 2025.
our impact
Extending the benefits of sustainability to renters
The CEFC commitment to QBIF aimed to demonstrate how clean energy technologies introduced in the early stages of development could complement the Build-toRent (BTR) model by keeping energy consumption down for the life of the properties.
QBIF was Australia’s first dedicated sustainable investment fund in the BTR market, developed with the aim of elevating sustainability outcomes.
From an investor perspective, BTR provides significant benefits within real estate and credit portfolios, including low volatility, low correlation to other asset classes, and a diversified credit risk due to a large tenant base.
Accessing the BTR asset class through secured debt also provides structural protection for investors seeking consistent income in a low-rate world.
