I have a hunch that owning a home, rather than renting, ends up creating a more sustainable home.
I rent my apartment, and I recently fixed the half wall in our kitchen. It was loose and slightly detached from the rest of the countertop peninsula. So, I had to take out the dishwasher and attach some brackets to the back of the cabinetry and half wall. I had asked my landlord to fix it, but he was dragging his feet. So, I decided to just do it. And, I also love doing things and making things (you know that already). It was a fun Saturday project.
But, I am also a weirdo.
A typical renter doesn’t really care about the place they live in. Yes, they will do their best to make it feel like a “home.” Hang a picture, put some nice smelling soap in the bathroom, get a fun throw blanket for the couch. But, the renter doesn’t really care about the longevity of the building. It’s understandable - they don’t have any skin in the game. Financially, why would they care what happens to the building, once they leave?
Owners are quite the opposite. They should care about everything involving their building. It’s an investment. Whether you are trying to increase the value for a resale or trying to avoid maintenance cost in the long run, you need to treat your home with love and respect. That ends up leading to a more sustainable home. If you have a regular maintenance schedule as an owner, everything works better. That way, you don’t have to waste money and resources trying to repair things that shouldn’t be broken in the first place. The way people treat buildings has a huge impact in the length of a building’s life.
I don’t have any data whatsoever to back this up, but I think home ownership is one path towards a more sustainable society.