“We’re here for our tenants – we believe in the social market economy”
On the “PropTalk” podcast, Chief Development Officer Henrik Thomsen discusses Deutsche Wohnen’s new-build offensive, togetherness in the time of coronavirus and the potential of digitization.
Despite the economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, Deutsche Wohnen plans to invest EUR 3 billion in building new properties across Germany in the coming years. Alongside Berlin, the company will primarily focus its efforts on Munich and Stuttgart, as Chief Development Officer (CDO) Henrik Thomsen explains on EVANA AG’s property industry podcast, “PropTalk”: “I want to build. And we’re focusing on new builds in metropolitan areas.”
Of course, according to the Danish national, who joined Deutsche Wohnen in October 2019, the coronavirus crisis poses a major challenge: “This virus is changing the world as we know it. That’s why we need to stand together. We moved very quickly to set up a EUR 30 million fund to support residential tenants, small businesses and shops struggling to pay their rent. We’re here for our tenants. We believe in the social market economy.”
Deutsche Wohnen is also very much aware of its responsibility to the environment. Its planned new builds are environmentally sustainable and of outstanding quality. Digitization will play a key role. Thomsen has high hopes for it: “We see our homes as the heart of our digital lives.” New technology can be used to control and maintain heating systems remotely, for instance, making these systems more effective and eco-friendly.
Find out more: listen to the full “PropTalk” podcast episode featuring Henrik Thomsen (in German) here.