Xfinity/Parks study finds that 41% of apartment renters expect immediate access to broadband

The joint white paper looks at the impact of seamless day-one connectivity on property operations and the resident experience.
Dec. 8, 2025
2 min read

Key Highlights

  • 41% of apartment renters expect their internet service to be ready upon move-in, influencing their leasing choices.
  • Nearly 50% of residents rate internet availability at move-in as a top consideration when searching for a new home.
  • Property owners are adopting smart devices like locks, thermostats, and leak detectors to enhance resident experience and operational efficiency.
  • Robust broadband connectivity is a key differentiator for multifamily properties, helping attract and retain tenants.
  • The white paper offers best practices for simplifying smart tech implementation and achieving seamless property readiness.

When a resident is considering what apartment to rent, broadband availability is now top of mind in the decision-making process. 

Broadband serves not only as a bond for consumers who need connectivity for entertainment and remote work, but also to enable key amenities like property-wide security cameras and controlled access to the property require robust connectivity on that property.

A new joint Parks Associates/Xfinity Communities white paper,  "Achieving Turnkey Connectivity: Elevating the Total Multifamily Experience," showed that 41% of apartment renters expect their internet service will be ready-to-go from the moment they move into a property. 

Developed in partnership with Xfinity Communities, the white paper looks at how properties can enable turnkey property readiness and a seamless move-in-ready experience for residents. It addresses the growing challenges from vendor fragmentation and best practices for simplifying smart tech implementation.

Nearly 50% of apartment residents rated internet availability at move-in as a top consideration when searching for a new home.

Having robust broadband available is also a tool that multifamily property owners and managers can use to differentiate themselves. Parks Associates estimates that there are nearly 29 million apartments and almost 10 million condos in the United States.

Increasingly, property owners/operators are looking for technologies to attract and retain residents, enhance Net Operating Income (NOI), and protect their assets. Devices like smart locks, thermostats, leak detectors, and lights are becoming more common in multifamily spaces.

Elizabeth Parks, President and Chief Marketing Officer for Parks Associates, said when looking at the role of multifamily connectivity, consumers see connectivity inside multi-family units differently.

“There’s a transition and transformation that’s happening in the multifamily market,” she said. “There’s an evolution for consumers because of technology advancements, and that’s spilling over into not only the multifamily experience in the units, but also what’s outside in the public areas.”  

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About the Author

Sean Buckley

Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategy of Lightwave across its website, email newsletters, events, and other information products.

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