Landlords and tenants, it's time to start household recycling

Beyond sustainability certifications

Tenants are demanding that spaces have the right impact, and the credentials to prove it. Landlords are pivoting their real estate portfolios accordingly. Certifications such as LEED and BREEAM are demonstrable assurances that buildings are future proof and consciously designed and built. They mark a workplace out in a crowded room and draw in tenants with solid ESG commitments; those invested in choosing and communicating proof of a commitment to people, stakeholders and wider communities. But is this enough?

One of the main considerations in Peldon Rose’s planet-first workplace guide is the need for a smarter approach to certification. There needs to be better transparency about what exactly certifications represent, and an acknowledgement of their limitations. And it’s not just about ticking that box and moving on. It’s about demonstrating a commitment to today, but also tomorrow, as certification starts to distinguish the buildings that are exceeding sustainability targets and benchmarks.

What’s household recycling got to do with it?

There’s capacity to take the conversation between landlords and tenants to granular levels. Discussing sustainability aspirations on a case-by-case basis with pragmatic conversations about what can and cannot be achieved elevates the approach beyond blanket obligations, wide-reaching certifications and tick box exercises. Exploring specific design options means establishing an early dialogue and looping in design teams at the very start of the process. Not only does this expand the realm of what’s possible, it also mitigates later changes and upheaval to building schemes, and thus unnecessary waste and destruction.

Sustainability accreditations represent council level policy; essential, and far sweeping. Talks on a case-by-case basis between landlord, tenant, and design house represent household recycling; everyone accepts the responsibility of managing their own waste, and dealing with it themselves. And just like household recycling, if the real estate market collectively responded with this individualistic approach, the positive impact on the planet could be vast.

"There is nothing more satisfying than giving an asset a new lease of life."

Kev heads up the dedicated Landlord team at Peldon Rose, growing their reputation within the London commercial real estate market. The team curates beautiful designs, helping to bring the best offering for landlords including ready-to-work and Category A+ spaces. Kev is inspired and motivated by the uniqueness of our offering and opportunities to bring old, dilapidated buildings back to life and prepare them for their next step in their usage.

Kev’s hobbies and passions are his family, his kids and golf! For him, it’s a wonderful way to get outdoors and experience the thrill of putting yourself under the pressure to succeed, with the control of the outcome sitting with him. He also loved cycling when growing up and in his early years living in London and is aspiring to get back into it.