Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series,
Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Real Estate and Construction Management & Banking and Finance

No 16/1: Challenges in property management within the Swedish cooperative housing sector

Henry Muyingo ()
Additional contact information
Henry Muyingo: Department of Real Estate and Construction Management, Royal Institute of Technology, Postal: Department of Real Estate and Construction Management , Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 1, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: Purpose - The paper investigates the challenges to property management in the tenant-owner cooperative (TOC) housing sector in Sweden which accounts for 22% of the housing stock in the country as compared to an average of 10% in the rest of Europe.

Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative descriptive approach is used in the paper in which semi-structured interviews of governing committee members in 12 TOCs; a questionnaire on operation and management strategies sent to chairpersons in 725 TOCs as well as a questionnaire on issues related to energy efficiency sent to chairpersons in 91 TOCs provide the empirical data. This is complemented by an analysis of financial reports.

Findings – The paper provides indications that most of the challenges identified are related to the lack of a long-term perspective in the decision-making due to various principal-agent related problems. There appears to be an exploitation of the TOC sector by construction companies especially in cooperatives with newly constructed buildings.

Research limitations/implications – Because of the chosen sampling method and research approach, the presented results may lack generalisability. Thus, researchers are encouraged to carry out further studies.

Practical implications - The paper highlights the need for knowledge sharing as well as enhancement of competence in procuring outsourced services.

Originality/value – This paper fulfils the need for more research into the large but rarely studied TOC sector governed by amateurs in property management.

Paper type - Research Paper

Keywords: Property management; cooperative housing; tenant-owner; multi-owner housing; Sweden

JEL-codes: M21; R30

15 pages, February 8, 2016

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