Europe is taking the lead in real estate transparency, propelled by a wave of new sustainability legislation that is elevating industry standards.
JLL, in collaboration with LaSalle, has unveiled the 12th Global Real Estate Transparency Index, recognized as the industry benchmark and an essential resource for cross-border investors and corporate occupiers. Globally, the World Economic Forum acknowledges the real estate sector’s responsibility for over 20% of the world’s carbon emissions and other environmental impacts. Nevertheless, Europe is at the forefront of instigating improvements and heightened transparency through a combination of stricter regulations, sustainability metric monitoring, and the integration of technology.
The index reveals that six out of the 12 countries classified as ‘Highly Transparent’ are in Europe, with France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium showcasing significant improvements alongside Ireland and Sweden. The UK, once again, secures the top spot on the index, with revived legislation in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine mandating overseas owners of real estate to disclose their beneficial owners in a publicly accessible register. Cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham rank among the top 20 most transparent cities, with London leading the list, surpassing New York and Paris.
