CHALLENGE
Avestus Capital Partners is a leading real estate investment manager in Ireland.
Savills began working with Avestus in late 2020 to develop the an ESG strategy for a residential build-to-rent portfolio comprising 10 assets, setting clear objectives and an action plan. One of the key objectives was to initiate GRESB reporting to benchmark and drive ESG performance. Since 2021, we have supported their GRESB submissions, helping them navigate the complexities of sustainability reporting while ensuring continuous ESG improvement across the portfolio.
A key challenge in the process is data management, as utility consumptions are mainly by residents which is out of our operational control. Ensuring the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of data for GRESB purposes required a structured and collaborative approach between teams. Additionally, working with multiple managing agents necessitated a coordinated effort to standardise sustainability data reporting and drive meaningful ESG improvements beyond compliance.
SOLUTION
To support Avestus in their ESG journey and GRESB reporting, Savills implemented a structured, hands-on approach:
Foundational ESG Strategy Development
- We worked closely with the client to develop their first ESG strategy, defining clear objectives and an actionable roadmap.
- GRESB submission was identified as a key milestone in their sustainability journey, providing a structured framework to measure and enhance performance..
Data Management and Quality Assurance
- While our team in Ireland focused on utility data collection and uploading to the cloud platform, we maintained close communication to ensure the data met GRESB requirements.
- Our role extended beyond data collation—we conducted quality checks, identifying anomalies and inconsistencies to improve overall data reliability.
- We provided regular guidance and feedback to our team in Ireland to enhance data accuracy and completeness over time.
Engagement with Managing Agents
- We worked with the portfolio’s managing agents to ensure they provided the right sustainability information for GRESB reporting.
- By fostering clear communication and expectations, we improved data consistency and reporting efficiency across the portfolio.
Proactive ESG Advisory and Continuous Improvement
- Beyond GRESB, we took a proactive role in identifying opportunities to enhance the sustainability performance of individual assets.
- We leveraged insights from GRESB submissions to inform long-term sustainability actions and refine ESG strategies where needed.
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Our ongoing advisory role ensures that Avestus continues progressing along their sustainability journey, integrating ESG considerations into broader investment and operational decisions.
RESULTS
GRESB Performance Improvement: The portfolio has seen consistent improvement in GRESB scores since the first submission in 2021.
Management Engagement: Avestus’ management team has become increasingly engaged in ESG initiatives, recognising the value of sustainability in asset performance and long-term resilience.
Enhanced Data Quality: Through our quality assurance efforts, data accuracy and completeness have improved, strengthening the foundation for informed decision-making.
Strategic ESG Impact: Avestus now integrates GRESB insights into broader sustainability planning, using reporting outcomes to refine long-term ESG actions and priorities.