The thesis was investigated implementation of the strategic planning of housing companies in Southwest Finland and in Western Uusimaa. In a housing company, the strategy crystallizes the goals of owners and users to develop the property, taking into consideration the current condition and future repair needs. The strategies for housing companies have been much discussed in the industry’s publications, but there is little information available about their implementation and related issues. The purpose on the thesis was to find out about the implementation of the strategies and the knowledge of the instructions to their preparation through the experiences of the professional property managers. The thesis was commissioned by the Real Estate Association Southwest Finland.

The theoretical basis on the thesis is based on a variety of source material, such as the guidelines for the development of a housing company’s strategy and the Housing Company Act. Qualitative research and constructive research were used in the thesis. Survey and observation were used as research methods. The survey was conducted on a number of professional property managers because they play a key role in drafting and implementing the strategy. Experiences were utilized as a property manager and real estate teacher in the observation.

As a result of the thesis, it became apparent that housing companies have made little use of strategies, although at least property managers are well aware of the strategies and guidelines for their preparation have been inexistence for years. The study found that at least the poor productization of strategies and the labor process of the strategy process have influenced the lack of strategies, although the importance strategic planning in housing companies is well known.

In the current state of affairs, the strategies for housing companies will not play a significant role in the management and life cycle planning of housing companies. However, based on the study, the situation can be changed, for example, through better productization or the modernization for the modern model. However, getting strategies into the normal operation of housing companies requires radical changes and new perspectives for existing practices and operating models.