One in three tenants who moved out of a municipal rental flat in Gothenburg in connection with renovation said the renovation was a main reason for their decision, and many of them moved out even before construction began. A new study from Chalmers University of Technology shows that concerns about disruption, uncertainty and unclear information can be just as important as rent increases.
An ageing housing stock and energy performance requirements at both national and EU level mean there is a significant need for renovation in the Swedish public housing sector. At the same time, renovations generally lead to higher rents and also bring about other effects and changes that cause tenants to move out. It is precisely these factors behind tenants moving out that researchers at Chalmers, in collaboration with the public housing sector in Gothenburg, have investigated.
The study examined 42 renovation projects managed by Gothenburg’s three municipally owned housing companies – Bostadsbolaget, Familjebostäder and Poseidon. In Sweden, these companies form part of the "Allmännyttan", a system of municipally owned housing companies that provide rental housing as part of Sweden’s public housing system. While similar forms of public or municipal housing exist in some other countries, there is no direct and general international equivalent to the Swedish model.
Tenants’ concerns led to them moving house
The researchers interviewed 450 tenants who had permanently moved out of their flats between 2018 and 2021. Of these, 141 said the renovation itself was a main reason for moving. More than six in ten of these tenants moved before the renovation had even started.
“In our study, we have found that tenants often move out even before the renovation begins. It is not just a question of rent increases, but also of uncertainty and concern about how their daily lives will be affected,” says Paula Femenias, professor at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers and lead author of the study.
Concerns about noise, disruption and reduced functionality during the renovation were the most frequently cited reasons. Unclear information and uncertainty about when and how the renovation would take place were also important factors. Repeated delays and unclear schedules made it difficult for tenants to plan their everyday lives and, in some cases, contributed to their decision to leave permanently.
Minimising disruption and clear communication are crucial
“Information and communication are low-hanging fruit in this context. For example, having direct, personal contact with representatives of the landlord clearly helps tenants feel better informed and more secure about why, how and when the renovation will take place, and what impact it will have,” says Paula Femenias.
The study suggests that renovation can be made more socially sustainable by minimising disruption and providing clear, timely and personal communication. While rent increases are an important factor in tenants’ decisions, the researchers highlight that uncertainty and concerns about the practical consequences of renovation also play a significant role.
“Renovations can be carried out in a more socially sustainable way, taking into account both energy efficiency and secure housing conditions for tenants. The debate on socially sustainable refurbishment has often focused on rent increases, but what we think is important to highlight from our study is that concerns about disruption and a lack of clear information play at least as significant a role. Landlords therefore need to take these social factors into account, in addition to rent increases and their impact”, concludes Paula Femenias.
About the research:
The paper: Uncertainties and anticipated disturbances as drivers of tenant relocation in Swedish housing renovation was published in Energy Research & Social Science.
Authors: Paula Femenias, Kaj Granath, Martine Buser, Jens Widmark
Funding: The research study was funded by the Swedish Energy Agency (in the E2B2 programme), Centrum för management i byggsektorn (CMB), and Förvaltnings AB Framtiden, owned by Göteborgs stad (The Municipality of Gothenburg), parent organisation for Bostadsbolaget, Familjebostäder och Poseidon.
Contact:
- Professor, Building Design, Architecture and Civil Engineering