Recent research from Alpha FMC showed that 40% of asset managers listed environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing in their top three priorities for fund launches in 2020.
Businesses and governments have been equally clear on the need for sustainable recovery, so while Covid-19 dominates the property industry, ESG must remain high on the agenda. In fact, Covid-19 has heightened the importance of ESG principles to residential property’s long-term future. Already, investors in professionally managed residential developments are looking at how building operators have responded to the pandemic, including the implementation of disinfection procedures, self-isolation support, rent relief and contact tracing. These have become key indicators for the social impact of an investment, demonstrating how quickly things are evolving.