A new land lease business, aiming for two to four hectares of land for 50 to 100 homes, has been launched by newcomers Cecelia Hund and James E. Kelly, the nephew of the Co-Founder and former Managing Director of Lifestyle Communities.
Hamlet Living officially launched on Friday, 30 May. James Kelly, who founded Lifestyle Communities in 2003 and served as Managing Director following its ASX listing in 2007, will chair the new venture. Under his leadership, Lifestyle Communities grew to 33 land lease communities and more than 5,500 residents.
James E. Kelly told the Weekly SOURCE that the new operator is looking to seed with "two or three sites" in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. He said the homes would be affordable, pitched below the suburb's median price, and would operate on a DMF model, similar to Lifestyle Communities.
Cecilia Hund said there are three factors that set Hamlet Living apart:
First, while others go big and impersonal, Hamlet goes small - 50-100 homes – to deliver on the promise of fostering a true community experience for homeowners. “Hamlet” isn’t just a name, it’s a statement of scale, experience and belonging.
Second, Hamlet have reimagined the offering for the next generation of homeowners who are currently underserved. Gen X isn’t retiring—they’re rewiring. This time-poor, values-driven group demands more from their next chapter, which Hamlet will deliver with a unique design offering and tailored experiences.
Third, Hamlet has a team with a long-term management focus who thinks differently. Hamlet are not developers chasing scale, but rather see what the land lease industry could be – and want to create that change…
James E Kelly brings deep expertise in construction, development, and property funds—most recently as Director at Forza Capital—and leads acquisition and delivery.
Cecelia Hund is a challenger brand, strategy and customer specialist - putting the customer experience at the centre of every Hamlet - reshaping how the communities will be developed, marketed and lived in.
James Kelly Sr., founder of Lifestyle Communities, joins Hamlet as Chair, bringing over two decades of land lease leadership to bear.
Get the most important industry news straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our free newsletter: https://www.theweeklysource.com.au/newsletter-subscription-form
