Impact on environment and stakeholders

SATOhomes offer safety and security

SATO is a reliable and professional long-term lessor. Our broad range of rental apartments serves our customers in their changing situations and enables life-long housing solutions. We monitor the level of customer experience in service quality in different situations and aim to engage our customers in cooperation to improve the enjoyment of our residents. With regard to rental relationships, we comply with the Good rental practice guideline prepared in cooperation between Finnish Tenants, the Finnish Landlord Association, the Finnish Real Estate Federation and RAKLI, the Finnish Association of Building Owners and Construction Clients.

We are providing homes to approximately 45,000 people who we take care of every day, together with our cooperation network. To understand the needs of our customers, we analyse trends and what our customers value in order to develop our services and to expand our service range accordingly. In addition, to help our residents facing temporary difficulties, we have a team of specialists called 'Asumisneuvoja' to assist these residents.

We use personal data and information about payment behaviour covered by privacy protection in our customer accounts, and therefore, we take extra care in handling all information. We have appointed individuals who handle customer data in accordance with the purpose of use indicated beforehand. Furthermore, we have internal guidelines on data privacy.

We communicate openly and speak boldly, also about difficult matters, in order to improve the customer experience. One active resident is recognised as the Customer of the Year.

Meaningful work

Competent employees committed to common goals play an important part in our ability to reach our objectives. Meaningful work, combined with an open and inspiring corporate culture and wellbeing at work, are directly reflected in the customer experience, and vice versa. We monitor our employee satisfaction through a personnel satisfaction survey and performance appraisals.

Our Code of Ethics defines the actions of our company and our personnel.

Sustainable supply chains

We select suppliers that are able to produce value and good customer experiences to our customers. We make sure that each supplier has a sufficient capacity and capability to achieve quality and schedule goals, with the right kind of service attitude. Sustainable operating methods in terms of the working environment, safety and the environment are key factors. To prevent the grey economy, we only accept companies registered in the tilaajavastuu.fi (reliable partner) service as our service providers.

Occupational safety on the work sites of buildings and renovation sites commissioned by SATO is primarily the contractors’ responsibility, which we, however, develop together with the contractors. We monitor compliance with occupational safety practices and we keep track of the accident frequency rate. We aim for zero accidents.

We build and repair sustainably

We decrease the environmental load by maintaining our properties regularly and proactively and by building homes mainly in urban environments, near good connections for public transportation. When designing new rental housing, we always consider energy efficiency and building solutions that will last for decades.

Residents also find making sustainable choices easier when their homes are located centrally.

Transparent reporting and responsible risk management

We want to be a competitive and sustainable investment object to investors. We communicate and report our operations transparently in accordance with international accounting standards and the corporate governance of listed Finnish companies, and prepare our sustainability reports in accordance with the GRI framework. We participated in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) for the nineth time in 2023, receiving three stars out of five. SATO’s strengths in the GRESB assessment included sustainability management, risk management, diverse stakeholder relations, comprehensive employee health and wellbeing programme and measures, and health and safety of tenants.

The goal of our risk management is to ensure operational continuity as well as achieving SATO’s strategic and financial aims. The highest responsibility for risk management is held by our Board of Directors, which decides on the targets for risk management and monitors the main risks. Risk management is part of SATO’s strategy process, operational management and business processes.

In 2021, we drew up a climate scenario analysis in line with the TCFD framework on climate risks and opportunities in the two- and four-degree options.

Cash flow chart (MEUR) 2023

We have an impact on society

We contribute to the development of the housing and real estate sectors through our participation in organisations and networks. SATO is a member and influences actively e.g. on the following organisations:

the Finnish Association of Building Owners and Construction Clients (RAKLI)
Suomen Asuntoliitto ry (Finnish Housing Association)
Asuntoreformiyhdistys ry (Finnish Housing Reform Association)
the FIBS network for corporate social responsibility
Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce
City of Helsinki’s Climate Partners network

We are involved in the ‘Home and Job’ (#kämppäjaduuni) project, which focuses on significant societal issues, i.e. homelessness and unemployment.

SATO makes an annual Christmas donation to a selected destination - mainly to support children or young people or the homeless.

SATO's tax footprint 2023