Benchmarking sustainable services for the housing sector in the city of tomorrow

The HOMESERVICE project studies services that: Ô Are offered to residents at their home either directly by the housing provider or via an intermediary organisation and Ô Effect sustainable development positively. The key idea behind the Homeservice project is that environmental burden can be reduced by replacing products with services. Previous studies indicate that consumers must be able to use such services as conveniently as the products they own themselves. Therefore the services should be offered to consumers at their homes. Competition in the housing market is increasing. This challenge can be met in various ways. One possibility is to supply homeservices to the residents. Therefore the project focuses on the residents, the intermediaries (e.g. housings organisations) and the service providers. However, not every product can be replaced by a homeservice. The project searches market niches for homeservices in seven service areas: consulting and information, care and supervision, leisure time services/activities, repairs, mobility and delivery, safety and security, supply and disposal. Why offer other than mandatory services in the first place? The business benefits relate to reduction of costs (e.g. via energy and water savings) and improved image. Improved image on its turn is likely to make the housing provider more attractive in the eyes of the existing and potential residents. Consequently it makes possible longer tenancies and thus reduces changeover of residents. Furthermore, a good image appeals to better segments of the tenant market. Thinking beyond direct business benefits, the service orientation is one practical way of taking responsibility of society (by providing more jobs), residents, and the environment. Sustainable homeservices may offer competitive advantage for real estate services. To achieve these goals project tries to answer following questions: Ô What are the best-practice services in six European countries? Ô Which services and what way they are provided to the residents? Ô What are the obstacles for sustainable services? Ô What incentives there are for housing sector organisations to provide services?