Social Responsibility Initiatives for Residents and Tenants
Role of SHR with Respect to Residents and Tenants
In recent years, the significance of SHR’s efforts to provide resilient buildings that can withstand disasters, etc., and to minimize damage in the event of a crisis has become greater. We believe that our role is to make the properties owned by SHR a place that provides safety and peace of mind, and to make it a comfortable place that improves the quality of life on a daily basis.
SHR seeks properties that are located in suitable locations to provide a “sustainable base for living” for residents and a “sustainable base for business operation” for tenant companies. Based on the recognition that the need for real estates that have high residential functionalities including comfort and safety or the components desired by tenant companies is increasing, SHR designates “high quality” residential and commercial properties, etc. located at “strategic locations” as “Prime Properties” and prioritizes investments in such properties.
Through investments in properties that qualify as “Prime Properties”, SHR will pursue both sustainable lifestyles and business activities for its residents and tenants, and the sustainable asset management of SHR.
Six Factors of Prime Property
Focus Points for Residences
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| Element | Focus Points |
|---|---|
| Economic Zones |
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| Convenience |
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| Livability |
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| Environmental Consideration |
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| Safety |
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| Brand |
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Focus Points on Office Building
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| Element | Focus Points |
|---|---|
| Economic Zones |
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| Convenience |
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| Functionality |
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| Environmental Consideration |
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| BCP |
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| Brand |
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Safety, Security, and Comfortability for Tenants
Measures against Earthquakes
SHR's investment criteria require that the company's domestic portfolio has a seismic PML (probable maximum loss) of 10% or less in principle and that the addition of earthquake insurance is considered for individual properties with a PML of 20% or more. The seismic PML of SHR's portfolio as of October 31, 2023, was 2.0%; there were no individual properties with a PML exceeding 20%.
Measures against Flooding
SHR has a system for minimizing damage from natural disasters by investigating the risks of inland flooding, river flooding and storm surge for our owned properties to assess our portfolio's flood risk and use the findings to improve our business continuity plan (BCP).
As of October 31, 2023, properties with a flood depth of 0.5 meters or more account for 63.8% of our portfolio.
Flood Depth Classification of Owned Properties (Acquisition Price Basis)
(As of October 31, 2023)
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| Flood Depth | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5m | ≥0.5m | |||
| Office Building | 8.4% | 39.2% | 47.7% | |
| Greater Tokyo | 8.4% | 22.2% | 30.7% | |
| Osaka Area | - | 15.9% | 15.9% | |
| Nagoya Area | - | 1.2% | 1.2% | |
| Residence | 27.7% | 21.5% | 49.2% | |
| Greater Tokyo | 21.9% | 17.0% | 38.9% | |
| Osaka Area | 0.5% | 1.0% | 1.5% | |
| Nagoya Area | 3.0% | 0.7% | 3.7% | |
| Others | 2.3% | 2.7% | 5.0% | |
| Hotel | - | 3.1% | 3.1% | |
| Osaka Area | - | 3.1% | 3.1% | |
| Total | 36.2% | 63.8% | 100.0% | |
Disaster-Resilient Office Buildings
Hommachi Minami Garden City takes business continuity into account by installing seismic braces on each floor to absorb the forces that would act on the building in a major earthquake, and by situating its mechanical room on the 3rd floor, above flood level. Despite these features, it still offers over 1,300 square meters of column-less spaces and a ceiling height of 2.8 meters on standard floors.
At HK Yodoyabashi Garden Avenue, the floor level of the first floor has been raised by 0.5 m from the front road on the north side to prevent flooding into the building, in readiness for flooding damage due to torrential rain, etc. Flooding countermeasures have also been implemented in the B1F parking lot, which is susceptible to damage due to rainwater flowing in from the road. Electrically operated waterproof panels that activate automatically when a sensor detects a certain amount of flowing water are installed at the entrances and exits of the roadway ramp to prevent possible flooding damage. We have also installed emergency generators for buildings that can supply power to both common and exclusive areas, and are able to supply power for up to 48 hours even when the supply of power from the power company is stopped, ensuring business continuity.
Electrically operated
waterproof panel
Power supplied by emergency
generators for buildings
Residence in Preparation for Disasters
Prime Maison Shinagawa is a rental condominium developed by Sekisui House in response to rising concerns about power conservation and disaster prevention performance following the Great East Japan Earthquake, in addition to climate change. This property has an emergency power generator that was introduced to ensure a higher level of safety and security in the event of an emergency. The generator is connected to solar batteries and storage batteries, ready to serve as an emergency power supply system for use in the event of a blackout.
Conceptual Diagram of Emergency Power Supply System
When power is cut due to a natural disaster or similar event, the emergency power generator is activated and supplies power to common areas for approximately 19 hours. It can continue to supply power even longer when connected with solar batteries and storage batteries. As a result, some lights for common corridors and the entrance are illuminated, securing passageways and providing a sense of security even at night. In addition, the generator also supplies power to the electrical outlets in the entrance, where residents would gather, allowing them to charge mobile phones and other devices. The generator also permits the collection of information via the monitor in the control room. Power is also supplied to the feed-water pump. This means that water will be supplied to common areas and dwelling units as long as the water supply has not been cut off.
Examples of Disaster Prevention Equipment for Residences
Emergency cabinet for elevators
Prime Maison Gotenyama East and others
Distribution of stockpiled emergency supplies to tenants
Esty Maison Ojima and others
Stockpile of emergency toilets
Prime Maison Shinagawa
Bench with oven function
Esty Maison Kyobashi and others
AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
Prime Maison Yokohama Nihon-odori and others
Disaster relief vending machines
Prime Maison Ginza East and others
Conducting Tenant Satisfaction Surveys
SHR regularly conducts tenant satisfaction surveys with the aim not only to improve and stabilize leasing operations, but also to communicate with residents and tenants and build reliable relationships.
For the surveys conducted in fiscal year 2023, we incorporated questions asking about their initiative status of implementation and in-house discussions related to ESG and well-being into the survey items.
The survey results are shared with property management companies, building management companies and others, and measures will be developed to further improve services.
Summary of Fiscal Year 2023 Survey
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| Survey period | July to August 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Respondents | Office building | 62 tenants |
| Residence | 8,857 residents | |
| Survey items | Office building | Overall satisfaction, items regarding ESG, well-being, etc. |
| Residence | Items regarding rooms and common area's satisfaction, residents needs, management conditions, interest in environmental issues, etc. | |
| Response rate | Office building | 79.0% |
| Residence | 27.5% | |
Fiscal Year 2023 Survey Results
Office buildings
A total of 93.3% responded that they were "satisfied" or "highly satisfied".
Satisfaction
93.3%
Acclaimed Points
- Convenient location
- Building grade, specifications, exterior and interior design of entrances
- Security and disaster resilience
- Responsiveness and quality of building management companies
- Comfortability and safety
Points to be improved
- Offering common spaces such as café lounges and rental conference rooms
Residence
A total of 78.8% responded that they were "satisfied" or "highly satisfied".
Satisfaction
78.8%
Acclaimed Points
- Convenient location
- Good surrounding environment and security
- Well-equipped facilities (home delivery boxes and parking spaces)
- Design and atmosphere of rooms, water facilities
- Clean and tidy rooms and spaces
- High soundproofing performance
- Environmental friendliness through installing LED lightings in common areas, etc.
- Many pleasant greenery-plantings
- Internet connection
Points to be improved
- Aesthetic appearance of entrance and lobby
- Maintenance of parking lots for cars and bicycles
- Air conditioning in common areas (temperature and scent)
Introducing Barrier-Free Facilities
Hommachi Minami Garden City was designed based on the Building Movement Facilitation Guidance Standard required by the Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. of Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons, etc. (known as Barrier-Free Act) and is the first office building in Osaka City to be designated as barrier-free under the law.
Key Features
- Two multipurpose restrooms accessible to ostomates and wheelchair users on each office floor
- Wheelchair-accessible elevators
- Wide hallways that allow two wheelchairs to pass
- Three wheelchair-accessible parking spaces in the parking garage
Acquisition of Certification for CASBEE Wellness Office
“Hommachi Minami Garden City” and “Akasaka Garden City” received the Certification for CASBEE Wellness Office, and are certified as“A Rank”. Furthermore, the properties have received “S Rank” of the Certification for CASBEE for Real Estate so far, they have been authorized “A Rank” of the Certification for CASBEE Smart Wellness Office which can be received by combining each certification.
Overview of the Certification for CASBEE Wellness Office
Certification for CASBEE Wellness Office is a tool to evaluate the specifications, performance, and efforts of buildings that support the maintenance and promotion of the health and comfort for building users.
In addition to factors that directly affect the health and comfort for the workers working in the building, factors that contribute to the improvement of intellectual productivity and performance related to safety and security are also evaluated. They are scored on the following five categories of evaluation items: "1. Health and Comfort", "2. Improved Convenience", "3. Security and Safety", "4. Operation and Management" and "5. Programs", and are then given ratings from "S Rank", "A Rank", "B+ Rank", "B- Rank" or "C Rank".
Click here for the Certification for CASBEE Wellness Office (Japanese Only).