At a time when the Dutch (care-related) housing market is totally out of balance, the Dutch Social Impact Real Estate Partnership is aiming to realise and preserve affordable rental homes. Bouwinvest is doing this together with two major Dutch pension funds, ABP and bpfBOUW. Our common goal: homes in the social and lower mid-rental segment for those who are currently falling between the cracks in the housing market.
Given the structural shortage of suitable and affordable housing in the Netherlands, we are focusing on the realisation of rental homes in the social and lower mid-rental segment. These homes are meant for low and middle-income earners, and for people in key professions, such as police officers and healthcare workers. These are precisely the people struggling to find a place in our big cities.
Impact investing to fill the gaps
Impact investing in real estate offers us an opportunity to fill the gaps left by traditional investors and housing corporations. Our priority is to add something positive to society and in doing so, we also provide investors with modest but healthy returns with a low risk. Or, as The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) puts it: “Impact investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return”.
Our approach to impact investing is reflected in three strategic pillars: affordable, appropriate and healthy. These are at the heart of our strategy to invest not just in bricks and mortar, but rather in people and communities. This approach will enable us to achieve significant and measurable social impact, which goes hand in hand with solid financial returns for our investors.
Affordable
We are committed to creating homes that are not only affordable at the outset, but also remain affordable in the long term. By investing in energy-efficient (care-related) homes with a social or mid-segment rent, we aim to ensure a realistic financial cost for our tenants. Our aim is to have a positive impact on our tenants, by making and keeping homes available that are a good financial fit with our tenants’ incomes.
"I hope that what we call impact investing today will be the market standard in five years’ time."
Appropriate housing is more than just a roof over one’s head. It is also about finding a home that suits particular phase in a residents’ life and how they want to live. We focus on providing homes that are tailored to the specific needs of various target groups in terms of size, type and available amenities. From young working people to seniors, from small to larger households, and those in need of care; our partnership is committed to a housing market that welcomes everyone.
Healthy
The quality of our living environment has a direct impact on our health and well-being. This partnership is very much committed to the realisation of housing and care-related properties with healthy indoor environments. After all, healthy indoor environments contribute to the physical and mental well-being of our tenants. We also invest in social properties that enhance social cohesion and a sense of community, with spaces that invite meetings, participation and education.
SFDR
On 10 March 2021, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation for the financial services sector (hereinafter: SFDR) came into force. The aim of the SFDR is to create more harmonisation in the sustainability-related disclosures that investment managers provide their clients and to make it easier to compare financial products in terms of their sustainability.
The Level 2 requirements of the SFDR have been applicable since the beginning of 2023. In addition to the generic disclosures, Level 2 requires disclosures at financial product level. All Bouwinvest funds have been classified in accordance with SFDR requirements. The SFDR recognises three classifications: dark green (article 9), light green (article 8), and neutral (article 6).
The Bouwinvest Residential, Office, and Retail funds promote ecological and social characteristics and are therefore classified as article 8 products within the meaning of the SFDR. Additionally, the Dutch Social Impact Real Estate Partnership (Social Impact Partnership) has specific sustainability and social objectives and is therefore classified as an article 9 product under the SFDR.
Product-specific disclosures are included in the Information Memorandum and the annual report of each fund. In addition to these disclosures, the attached document provides the required information about the Social Impact Partnership. You will find additional information on the SFDR and all related disclosures on Bouwinvest’s SFDR page.
