New book examines responsibility in housing

The book covers not only the latest updates on the EU's energy efficiency directive and the impact of climate change on housing, but also the softer aspects of responsibility, such as the rules for renting to foreigners and considering the needs of the elderly in housing companies.

“Housing accounts for a quarter of Finnish emissions, and EU countries have jointly agreed to reduce these emissions substantially. We wanted to put together a toolbox of concrete actions under different sustainability themes that everyone working in the housing sector can put into practice, even immediately," says Hanna Silvola, who trains university students, business leaders and financial sector actors on sustainability issues.

Being a responsible landlord is reflected in your bank account. It protects the value of the home, prevents maintenance costs from escalating, and facilitates access to financing in the future, as loan approvals are increasingly scrutinised from a responsibility perspective.

“In addition, responsible behaviour improves the rentability of the home. By being fair and nice and offering a little better service, a responsible landlord keeps empty months to a minimum, rents at a reasonable level and tenancies long-term. They understand that they are offering their tenants homes, not just walls. So, thinking responsibly can also be a competitive advantage," Kati Valjus sums up.

Silvola and Valjus are both long-standing landlords, and the book also draws on their own personal experiences. In addition, the book includes the results of a survey carried out by the authors together with the Finnish Tenants. Private landlords provide around 40% of all rental housing.

More information about the book (in Finnish):
Vastuullinen vuokranantaja