Responsible investment DDQ for real estate investors

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Investors can use the questionnaire when selecting an investment manager for a new real estate mandate or when monitoring an investment manager they have committed capital to. The questions are aimed at managers that make direct real estate investments.

The DDQ should not be considered in isolation, but rather used to support a wider information-gathering process. The PRI encourages investors to:

• consider what additional resources are available to enhance their understanding of investment managers’ answers; and
• engage with investment managers to seek additional information and clarification, where necessary.

To promote consistency, the DDQ is designed to complement the information gathered through the PRI’s Reporting Framework – particularly the real estate module – as well as investment disclosure standards and frameworks developed by external organisations. The DDQ will be updated periodically to align with future changes to the Reporting Framework.

 

Notes on using this DDQ Document checklist

DDQ questions

1. Policy, governance, commitments and resourcing

1.1 Do you have a responsible investment policy?

If so, provide a copy. State whether it is publicly available; when it was published; whether it has been fully implemented; how it is reviewed and updated; and describe any changes recently made to it. If your organisation does not have a responsible investment policy, or if the policy does not cover all real estate investments, explain why not. If you have additional real estate fund-level policies relating to ESG factors, please share them.

1.2 What international standards, industry (association) guidelines, reporting frameworks, or initiatives that promote responsible investment practices, have you committed or contributed to?

Examples include being a PRI signatory, endorsing the TCFD recommendations, adhering to the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, and committing to support the Sustainable Development Goals. If your organisation has made a net-zero commitment, describe what it involves.

1.3 How is responsible investment overseen within your organisation?

List the people/committees with ultimate oversight and describe their roles and how they are qualified to provide oversight. Describe any external resources used to support responsible investment activities.

1.4 To what extent, if any, does your organisation incorporate responsible investment-related key performance indicators (KPIs) into performance reviews and compensation mechanisms?

Describe how the objectives are defined and measured and to which positions they apply, e.g., investment professionals/ESG teams/senior management.

1.5 How does your organisation ensure its investment professionals and other relevant staff are trained on responsible investment and stay up to date on applicable topics?

If you provide training, assistance and/or additional resources, describe what they cover, which staff receive them and how frequently they are delivered.

2. Fundraising

2.1 What formal responsible investment commitments have you made, or do you plan to make, in the Limited Partnership Agreement, side letters, or other constitutive fund documents?

Describe these and share sections of your private placement memorandum or other materials relevant to them. Examples include net-zero commitments and commitments to conduct ESG integration.

3. Pre-investment

3.1 How do you conduct ESG materiality analysis  and due diligence  on ESG factors for potential investments?

Describe the process, including any standards and data used, to determine which ESG risks and opportunities are material. Mention the level(s) at which the analysis is conducted (e.g., individual properties, property categories or types). State whether you conduct scenario analysis.

Once you have identified material ESG factors, explain how you conduct due diligence on these (e.g., undertaking site visits, conducting detailed external stakeholder analysis and engagement). Describe how you document your ESG due diligence process. Give recent examples of material ESG risks and opportunities identified in relation to a prospective investment.

3.2 How do material ESG factors  affect investment selection?

Describe whether they help identify risk management or value creation opportunities, lead to the abandonment of certain investments, impact their valuation, or affect other deal terms. State whether your investment committee or equivalent decision-making body considers material ESG factors. Explain using one to two recent examples.

3.3 How are ESG-related considerations integrated into acquisition agreements or documents and/or representations made by the seller?

Describe the process, including any requested ESG-related representations made when purchasing, e.g., environmental contamination, maintenance schedule, zoning, title encumbrances. Illustrate the process with a recent example.

4. Selection, appointment and monitoring of third-party property managers

4.1 Describe how you include ESG factors in your selection, appointment and monitoring of third-party property managers, if applicable.

Mention whether you i) request track records and examples of ESG initiatives during selection; ii) set dedicated ESG procedures in the property management phase; iii) set targets on material ESG factors to monitor performance against; iv) set incentives related to these targets and include ESG clauses in property management contracts; v) set ESG reporting requirements.

5. Construction and development

5.1 What ESG requirements do you have for development projects and major renovations?

Requirements might relate to metering technology; ability to obtain green building certification; use of sustainable building materials; becoming net-zero carbon emitters within a certain timeframe after construction is completed; air quality protection during construction; or engaging with stakeholders, including local communities.

6. Post-investment

6.1 Do you/your third-party property managers track KPIs relating to ESG factors for your investments?

If so, explain how you identify these, including any frameworks used. Provide examples of the KPIs tracked (e.g., energy consumption, water consumption, waste production) and specify the proportion of assets covered.

6.2 How do you use the identified KPIs relating to ESG factors?

Indicate if you set targets or benchmark performance against comparable assets, funds, companies or pathways, such as the Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM)  decarbonisation pathways.

6.3 How do you manage material ESG risks and opportunities to protect and create value during the holding period?

Describe if/how you develop and implement ESG action plans, and whether these vary depending on whether you take a minority or majority investment. Provide recent examples of actions taken, covering environmental and social factors.

6.4 Do you/your third-party property managers engage  with key stakeholders on ESG factors?

If yes, describe what areas and activities are typically part of the engagement. Key stakeholders include tenants and post-construction service providers.

6.5 Do you/your third-party property managers screen existing and potential tenants for ESG incidents  and/or for involvement in activities considered controversial?

If yes, provide examples where this affected the lease terms or prevented tenancy. Explain how potential risks are appropriately mitigated or managed.

ESG incidents include those in which tenants received a fine or faced other legal proceedings as a result of their actions. Examples of activities considered to be controversial include the manufacturing of indiscriminate weapons and involvement in gambling.

6.6 Do you include clauses relating to ESG factors in lease agreements and/or partnership agreements?

If so, provide examples of provisions included.

ESG clauses in lease agreements could require the occupier or owner to undertake specific obligations regarding the sustainable operation and occupation of the property, e.g., energy efficiency measures. They could also grant the owner access to metering data and other ESG information for occupier-controlled areas.

ESG clauses in partnership agreements could include requiring them to adhere to your organisation’s responsible investment policies or data collection practices.

6.7 List the certification schemes, ratings and/or sustainability performance benchmarks (e.g., LEED/WELL/GRESB) that your real estate assets are assessed against and the proportion of assets these apply to.

The proportion of real estate assets should be calculated by floorspace.

6.8 How do ESG factors impact your hold/sell decisions?

If ESG factors impact sale preparations, explain how. What information (e.g., responsible investment approach, outcomes of property ESG risk assessments, property ESG performance data) do you share with potential buyers?

7. Sustainability outcomes

7.1 Do you identify sustainability outcomes  related to your real estate investments?

If so, disclose any frameworks or tools you use to do so (e.g., the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement). Provide recent examples of the positive or negative outcomes that you have identified (e.g., the impact of the investments on climate change).

7.2 Do you take action to improve the sustainability outcomes connected to investments?

If so, provide details. Mention the sustainability outcomes objectives targeted and the actions taken to intentionally increase positive and/or decrease negative sustainability outcomes.

8. Disclosure

8.1 What information do you disclose on your responsible investment activities and performance to investors?

Describe how the information is disclosed (e.g., in meetings with investors, written disclosures), the frequency of reporting and whether disclosures are linked to specific frameworks (e.g., the PRI Reporting Framework, the TCFD recommendations, GRESB).

List any specific metrics disclosed (e.g., weighted average carbon intensity, carbon footprint) and the proportion of assets covered. Provide recent examples of ESG-related disclosures. If past disclosures are not available, please state whether you would consider introducing ESG-related disclosures.

8.2 How do you approach disclosing any material ESG incidents  to investors?

Describe any processes you use to ensure material ESG incidents are reported. Provide details of thresholds used to quantify what constitutes a material ESG incident, e.g., those with legal implications or resulting in an insurance claim over a certain amount.

9. Additional information

9.1 Does your organisation identify and manage the material ESG risks, opportunities and impacts connected to its internal operations?

If so, provide a brief overview. Examples might include initiatives to reduce your organisation’s carbon footprint or enhance the diversity of investment teams.

9.2 Is there any information on your organisation’s responsible investment approach, not otherwise covered in the DDQ, that you would like to share?

Please use no more than 500 words.

 

Appendix 1: Indicator mapping