Landlord Concerns: A decision to take on a retrofit project is made, based on a number of factors:

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• What problem needs to be solved? Reducing energy bills? Reducing leaks and drafts? Medium-term climate resilience? Failing building systems? Improving ventilation? Setting core objectives helps to determine which elements of the building will be upgraded as part of the retrofit.
• How much can be spent on the retrofit, and how long will it take to complete? Understanding the financial and logistical impacts of the retrofit help a landlord to plan.
• Which incentive programs and financing supports are available? There are a number of objective-driven programs available to offset retrofit costs. Most are geared to carbon reduction, utility savings and social sustainability.
• How will residents be impacted? The landlord will need to understand the type of provisions required to minimize disruption. This Field Guide can help.

Tenant Concerns: For tenants, news of a retrofit project can cause significant concern:

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• Will my rent go up? Will I need to find a new place to live, if my rent increases beyond what I can afford? First and foremost, legitimate concerns about housing insecurity must be addressed at the outset of a project.
• How will I be impacted negatively? Retrofit construction can be extremely disruptive: noise, multiple suite entries and longer elevator wait times are just some of the ways that tenants can be impacted. Anticipating these concerns is the first step in creating an action plan to minimize negative impacts.
• How will I be impacted positively? It is important that positive impacts of the retrofit process are communicated with clarity and thoroughness toward gaining tenant buy-in in the retrofit process. Benefits to tenants might include improved comfort, air quality, odor reduction across units, or energy efficiencies that result in decreased utility cost etc. Providing this information helps tenants understand the eventual positive benefits of a retrofit, which will have tangible impacts on their well-being and quality of life.