Laws & Standards

All jurisdictions have laws governing the construction and management of commercial real estate to ensure minimum efficiency, sustainability, comfort and safety levels for buildings. Laws also govern how property is transacted, which differs between jurisdictions, so it is important to understand which ones apply in whichever area interests you. Regulations affect how different property types are measured and valued. On the other hand, compliance with some recognised standards is conventional and voluntary. For instance, green certifications provide guidelines for assessment and motivate owners to improve their properties by introducing a degree of competition for higher levels of achievement. These include environmental standards such as BREEAM, HQE, DGNB, LEED and Valideo. Several awards programmes such as architecture competitions also assist with creating a property culture that strives to meet not only accommodation but also aesthetic and sustainability goals.