RES6: Sustainability Elements in Lease Contracts

Maximum Score

3.5 Points

Input Method

Assessment Portal

Prefill

Not eligible

Scoring method

Static

Validation

Evidence not required

2026 Updates

Yes

Does the entity include sustainability elements in its standard lease contracts and/or related appendices?

Assessment Instructions

Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?

The intent of this indicator is to assess whether the entity includes sustainability elements in its residential lease contracts, with data analyzed to inform future standards development.

In the Residential sector, lease contracts form the foundation of the relationship between landlords and tenants, outlining their respective rights and responsibilities. Promoting sustainability performance through these contracts is essential for aligning both parties with broader sustainability and social goals.

Input: How do I complete this indicator?

Select yes or no. If yes, report (1) the sustainability elements included in the lease contracts and (2) the percentage of contracts incorporating these elements.

Terminology

Data sharing

Refers to residents sharing information related to energy or water consumption, production of waste or greenhouse gases, recycling rates, etc. with the landlord.

Enabling upgrade works

The standard lease agreement explicitly includes provisions allowing the landlord to carry out upgrade work on the premises.

Energy conservation

The standards, strategies and actions to manage and conserve energy in a sustainable manner.

Energy consumption

The use of energy by the entity.

Incentives

Incentives can be financial in nature or encompass a variety of approaches designed to encourage utility conservation efforts by residents. Notable examples are the automatic renewal of existing contracts, priority viewing for newly vacant or new assets or the initiative by landlords to set up green energy supply contracts on behalf of residents.

Indoor environmental quality

The overall quality of a building's interior environment, impacting the health, comfort, and well-being of its occupants.

Sustainable living practices

Lifestyle choices and daily actions aimed at reducing an individual's or community's environmental impact while conserving natural resources for future generations. These practices focus on minimizing waste, lowering carbon footprints, and supporting ecological balance.

Social initiatives

Encourage, facilitate or require initiatives that are designed to improve the wellbeing of the premises’/buildings' surrounding communities. Initiatives can relate to provision of healthy food, commitments to human capital, health and safety or above-award pay for building management, responsible use of ground level and surrounding public space that results in enhancement of the surrounding community, etc.

Sustainable transport

Clauses can relate to preparation of an alternative transport report, sharing of information relating to public transport, environmentally low impact transport, end of trip facilities, bicycle racks, car share services, etc.

Recycling and waste management

Issues associated with hazardous and non-hazardous waste generation, reuse, recycling, composting, recovery, incineration, landfill and on-site storage.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy produced on-site, or procured off-site, to meet some or all of the building’s energy requirements.

Water conservation

The standards, strategies and actions to manage and conserve water in a sustainable manner.

Water consumption

The use of water resources by the entity.

Validation: What evidence is required?

Evidence not required.

Scoring

Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?

This indicator is worth 3.5 points in the 2026 standalone Residential Benchmark Report and replaces indicator Sustainability Requirements in Lease Contracts (TC4 - Green Leases).

The scoring of this indicator is equal to the sum of the fractions assigned to the selected options and respective sub-options, multiplied by the total score of the indicator.

The percentage of lease contracts with a sustainability clause and sustainability topics covered in the program are not scored and are used for reporting purposes only.

Validation Basics

Frequently Asked Questions

What are "related appendices" to a lease contract in the context of RES6?

"Related appendices" are documents that are formally provided by the landlord together with the lease contract. These appendices are typically referenced in, attached to, or clearly associated with the lease agreement and may include, for example, resident guidebooks, handbooks, or information packs that accompany the contract. More general or indirect communication channels, such as building notices, posters, email campaigns, or information hosted on a landlord’s website or online platform, are not considered related appendices.

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References

Direct GRESB membership feedback

Get Support: Solution Providers

GRESB Solution Providers are independent, third-party organizations within the GRESB Partner network that offer specialized products, tools, and services to support sustainability performance outside the GRESB Assessment process.

Currently, there are no GRESB Solution Providers associated with this indicator.

GRESB will continue to update this section as the GRESB Solution Provider network grows. Please check back regularly to find GRESB Solution Providers who can support your sustainability performance.