The Future of Housing Management

Abstract

On 22 December 2010, Minister of Housing Jan Vapaavuori invited Kaj Hedvall, Doctor of Science (Econ), Tuuli Kaskinen, Master of Science (Econ), and Matias Johansson, Master of Arts (M.A.) to form a committee of enquiry, with the task of exploring the current status of residential property housing management and obstacles preventing development in the field. The committee was also tasked with proposing development measures based on its report. This report makes the focal observation that the field of housing management is affected by challenges very similar to those faced by other property sector services: building a genuine customer relationship is difficult, quality service is not differentiated from low grade service, and pricing principles are unclear. Other important development areas covered include the development of customer relationships, improving the comparability of prices and services, reorganising housing management tasks, and networking. The report also examines the prospects of expanding the rather minor role of housing managers in order to improve energy efficiency, and questions pertaining to education. The key findings are summarised in nine statements, the related observations and actions.