Based on your experience, what is the state of accessibility and inclusive efforts in the real estate market? Has the approach of stakeholders changed in the last few years?

What I see - and what I truly hope - is that the approach to these topics has developed and has become more deliberate. Many companies have already recognized that inclusion actually means way more than a trendy buzzword that can be implemented into communication campaigns: accessibility means real and measurable business advantage. Apart from being a crucial element of ESG reports and efforts, accessibility can play a key role in enhancing marketing and employer branding efforts, while boosting the overall value of the property at the same time. One of our esteemed clients shared a surprising insight as well: the safety improvements that come with accessible design can help reduce insurance costs. By lowering the risk of accidents, these measures not only enhance safety but also provide tangible financial benefits.

The Access4you Certification process balances technical, marketing, and sustainability factors equally. It helps make accessibility efforts transparent and measurable, providing valuable data for KPI setting and ESG reporting. We also offer development suggestions that—contrary to common misconceptions—are not necessarily difficult or expensive to implement. This Certificate ensures a real social impact, sending a strong, positive message to customers, employees, and investors.

Is there a demand from the investor side as well?

Indirectly, yes. We’ve noticed that investors and tenants are increasingly prioritizing buildings that support employee health, well-being, and motivation, while also contributing to local communities. A company that truly values responsibility doesn’t just chase after ‘badges’ - they look for solutions that make a real, positive impact.

The demand for measurability and comparability has always been present in investments, but we are seeing it gaining even more focus within the ‘S’ aspect of ESG - pertaining to social factors. We have several clients who reached out to us specifically for support in substantiating and quantifying their accessibility efforts.

Photo by Dávid Szarka

Alongside investor pressure, legislative expectations for accessibility are growing across more sectors. What is your perspective on this trend?

According to UN projections, by 2030, the number of elderly people in Europe will surpass the number of those under 20. Apart from efforts to integrate people with disabilities, this also highlights the importance of ensuring accessibility through meaningful regulations for services and locations. Compliance is always a strong motivator, and the European Accessibility Act, along with its local adaptations, has become a major focus. From our perspective, it’s important not to place a figurative ‘gun’ on the table but to support and educate business decision-makers on the topic. Threats only cause people to step back, while meaningful dialogue moves things forward.

The Access4you Certification offers a comprehensive solution in this area: it is data-driven and covers all stakeholder groups, including people with disabilities and others with accessibility needs. The solution offers detailed documentation and reports that are user-friendly for both end-users and business decision-makers. In terms of physical accessibility, the Certificate meets the three main requirements outlined in the law, supported by international legal and professional validation. 

So accessibility not only benefits society but also provides numerous business advantages. With its international expansion, Access4you has gathered insights from various continents. Do these advantages have different perceptions in different regions? 

The three major sustainability-based certification systems (LEED, BREEAM, WELL) have already done much of the work in educating the professional real estate industry on the importance of building certifications. Our role is to build on this and to help others understand our value propositions.

The story is truly lovable, and there is generally openness to it, but the real work begins at this stage. It’s about explaining the specific needs, showcasing the product, and demonstrating its benefits to the client - then convincing them to purchase and implement. The sales cycle can be long, but I always tell my team there are two types of clients: those who already have an Access4you-certified location and those who will.

I find our value proposition relatively easy to understand: our solution consists of technical, marketing, and ESG tools, all of which provide value to property owners, operations, or tenants. On a moral level, it improves people’s quality of life and helps create a better world, which, in my opinion, is the pinnacle of a company’s Maslow’s pyramid.

Access4you builds its international network by involving Accredited Partners. What role do these partners play in the company’s operations?

The Accredited Partner Program is one of the strategic pillars of our operations. In other words, these partners are the ambassadors for boosting our business and social impact. They don’t just talk about it - they actively engage in sales and certification activities. We are proud that companies such as Colliers, Bureau Veritas, and CBRE have joined our mission in multiple countries. One of the major achievements this year has been our collaboration with CBRE Hungary, where they are now training their own colleagues in other European CBRE offices on the Access4you methodology and have been granted accreditation rights. 

We have found true allies and friends in Áron Horváth and Bálint Bartha-Horváth, and I am very grateful for everything they do and how they do it.

Nearly six years ago, Access4you was founded. Do you feel that you are on the right path to achieving your goals? What do you consider most important to continue making a real social impact?

By the end of 2023, I felt that the past five years had been the prelude and that 2024 would be the year we present our first season. Well, it turned out to be quite intense - there wasn’t a dull moment. We’ve already ordered the second season and are curious to see what twists and turns it will bring and who the new characters will be.

On a more serious note, I feel both joy and dissatisfaction. I think we have achieved a lot, a small Hungarian shop has set sail into the vast ocean. We have made progress, but we are still far from our ambitious 15-year goal of having 500.000 buildings worldwide with reliable, detailed accessibility information. Scaling a Hungarian startup to the global market is an enormous challenge. Right now, it feels much more difficult than bringing such a unique, social impact directly to market in just a few countries. 

When looking back on this year, what have been Access4you’s key achievements in promoting accessibility and social sustainability?

One of the achievements is that we have expanded beyond the Central European market: we now have accredite dpartners in Italy, Spain, and India, with our first references already in place. Although our partnership in South America is still very new, we have already received initial inquiries from this region as well. So far, we have surveyed more than 1.200 locations in total, with 1.5 million square meters assessed just this year. 

Another significant achievement is that major international organizations have validated our product: we have integrated into the global building certification systems WELL and GRESB. With our solution, clients can fill in the accessibility section of these certifications and earn additional points to their portfolios. These developments open up new horizons for the company. I hope that in 2025, we can achieve the same with the BREEAM and LEED systems, with whom we are already in discussions. 

What message would you share with businesses, as well as people with and without disabilities, about the importance of accessibility in shaping the future of the real estate market and society?

First, I would say that there is no such thing as a ‘disabled’ or ‘non-disabled’ person. We are all part of the same community and we each face different challenges. Taking action, even from a busines perspective, to create a better and more inclusive world is, in my opinion, a deeply reassuring feeling for a leader: Knowing that I’ve contributed to something meaningful for others.

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