New sustainable operational targets

Environmental sustainability has for many years been a key part of AF Bostäder’s operations and permeates everything from essential aspects and policy to goals and investments. A new strategy will further concretise the work and guide initiatives relating to waste, circularity, material selection, biodiversity, climate and energy.

When the students move in to Troja, one of Sweden’s biggest investments in sustainable student housing will be complete. The new district at Kämnärsrätten is based on the vision that it is possible to create an affordable, attractive and sustainable living environment for Lund’s students that is beneficial for studies, satisfaction and wellbeing, as well as the climate and biodiversity.

AF Bostäder is part of Lund Municipality’s climate collaboration, CoAction, in which 36 companies have committed to work for a climate-neutral Lund in 2030 through initiatives such as producing a green plan for travel.

The price rises of recent years for goods and services has meant steep cost increases for water, electricity, waste collection and heating.

At least 50% of AF Bostäder’s new tenants at the start of a semester are international students, a group that is often a target for housing scams. AF Bostäder manages the number of applicants and makes the rental process secure in several ways.

For several years, AF Bostäder has worked in a strategic and target-oriented way on social, environmental and economic sustainability. Now, the company is introducing culture as an equal fourth perspective. The work started in 2024 with a newly written policy and a new strategy for cultural sustainability.

AF Bostäder has started work on a revamp of its communication platform. The platform provides guidelines for how the company is to communicate in terms of target groups, messaging, typography, graphics, image selection etc. The aim is for AF Bostäder’s stakeholders, such as students, the media, the municipality and business community, to have a clear and consistent image of the company.

Being able to rapidly obtain pleasant and secure housing at a reasonable cost is an important factor when students are choosing where to study. Many people believe that it is difficult to find student housing in Lund. In a new joint report, three of Lund’s major student housing organisations show that the true picture is actually positive.

Designed in accordance with the Academic Society’s and prize-winning architect Bengt Edman’s visions of a student city within the city, and just as much loved as hated for its brutalist architecture, Sparta is constantly one of AF Bostäder’s most popular student housing areas. Sparta is now undergoing a careful renovation, so it can remain standing strong for many years to come.

AF Bostäder is driving one of Sweden’s biggest initiatives in sustainable student housing at Kämnärsrätten. Rhodos, a new quarter inaugurated in the summer of 2024, was awarded the Student Housing Prize for, among other things, pleasant accommodation, green outdoor environments and low climate impact. Students, relatives and friends gathered for the move-in and inauguration.

AF Borgen – the students’ own building in Lundagård – is the focal point of Sweden’s best student life. It is here that the Academic Society (Akademiska Föreningen) and the students arrange numerous activities, but it is also the setting for a café, restaurant, stages, festivities and much more. In addition, AF Borgen is also an ultramodern arena for Lund’s business community and cultural life.

AF Bostäder only rents out to active students at Lund University – the students’ status is verified by study checks. Now, measures are also being introduced to minimise prohibited sub-letting.