What has Skövdebostäder done so far?
Safety is an ongoing effort in which our customers’ experience must serve as our guide. In recent years, we have done the following, among other things:
- Adopted the “Dare to Care” initiative, which is based on a nationwide policy known as “Huskurage.” “Dare to Care” encourages both neighbors and Skövdebostäder staff to take action if they suspect domestic violence.
- Participates in EST, Effective Coordination for Safety. This is a collaboration between the municipality, the police, and other property owners to increase safety in the city and our neighborhoods.
- We ask our tenants about safety in our large-scale tenant survey. Here, residents have the opportunity to share their opinions on topics such as lighting and how safe they feel in various areas of the building. We then work on improvements based on the results.
- We have trained our staff on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- We work to combat fraudulent tenancy arrangements by following up when tenants are not registered in the population register at the address listed on the lease. This is to ensure that the person renting the apartment actually lives there and has a need for the housing.
What should we do going forward?
We have recently developed a sustainability strategy. Social sustainability includes the goal area of security, and we have two goals related to this topic:
- The Safety Index for Skövdebostäder must not fall below 87 percent. This is an index we measure in our tenant survey, and it is the tenants’ perception of safety that determines the figure.
- We will take the child’s perspective into account in all safety matters that affect children.
The next step is to develop a plan and set interim goals for the area. We are constantly working on safety, as this effort must be ongoing and continuously monitored to be effective.
What can I do as a tenant?
As a tenant, you can help improve safety in your neighborhood by:
- Say hello to your neighbors. Often, it doesn't take much more than a little kindness to foster a sense of safety and well-being.
- Be considerate of your neighbors. For example, loud music and smoking near a neighbor’s balcony can be perceived as disruptive.
- Take action if you suspect that a neighbor is being harmed. Read more about what to do here.
- Make sure that the doors to common areas are locked and do not let unauthorized people in. Also, make sure your storage room has a good lock.
- If you and your neighbors are interested, start a neighborhood watch program. Read more about it here.
- Please report any issues you notice in the area to us so we can address them. These might include a door that doesn’t close properly or a broken bench. In addition to the fact that certain issues can pose a safety risk, a well-maintained outdoor environment enhances a sense of safety and well-being. Read about how to report an issue here.
