The project aims to support property owners of large real estate portfolios in addressing the challenges related to the renovation of their building stocks. At the outset, various obstacles will be identified, and corresponding solutions will be developed to address them. These solutions will be tested with the property owners in three workshop stages, leading to the development of a workshop manual along with a detailed guide.

For property owners, especially those with large real estate portfolios, there are significant challenges in modernizing their properties to meet climate goals and comply with the requirements of the EU Taxonomy. There are various obstacles of a financial, legal, and other nature that hinder rapid and comprehensive decarbonization and thermal renovation. For example, the large group of non-profit housing associations in Austria, which manages approximately 1 million apartments, often faces limited financing options for comprehensive renovations due to insufficient and highly variable reserves from one property to another. Additionally, factors such as accommodating the needs of tenants and property owners, as well as technical challenges, can also pose further obstacles. In addition to this range of obstacles, the focus also includes the efficient adaptation and redesign of internal company processes and procedures, which have primarily been oriented towards new construction and property management.

For all these reasons, specific support services are necessary for owners of large real estate portfolios to effectively advance the decarbonization of their building stocks.

Based on a thorough analysis that includes a detailed assessment to identify implementation-relevant hurdles and the development of corresponding solution strategies, the project will develop a three-stage workshop concept. This concept will be tested with up to three different owners of large real estate portfolios. The workshop concept takes into account the varied situations of property owners in the decarbonization/renovation process. While some are just beginning, others may have already analyzed their portfolios, etc. In the three workshop stages—Commitment/Vision, Strategy, and Actions—existing processes will be evaluated, and potential new approaches and adjustments to the organizational structure will be developed. To support and complement the workshops, a workshop manual will be developed to guide the future conduct of similar workshops, along with a detailed guide. The project will be completed with the formulation of policy recommendations (e.g., for the development of funding frameworks and legal conditions) to address the findings. This will enable the project to make a significant contribution to increasing the decarbonization and renovation rates in the building sector. Key benefits will arise for both owners of large real estate portfolios and service providers, who can incorporate tailored consulting offers based on the project results into their portfolios. Additionally, the construction industry as a whole will benefit from the increased renovation activity.