Problem formulation:

• What underlying motives are behind the international housing companies and the Swedish municipal housing companies social responsibilities (CSR)?
• How do the international housing companies and the Swedish municipal housing companies interpret social responsibilities (CSR)?
• Are there any similarities or differences in the social responsibilities taken by the international housing companies and the Swedish municipal housing companies?

Objective: The main purpose is to examine and compare the international housing companies and the Swedish municipal housing companies social responsibilities. We also aim to examine the motives underlying the international housing companies and the Swedish municipal housing companies social responsibilities.

Methodology: The study is limited to housing companies with rental housing. In order to answer the study's problem formulation and purpose we have chosen to combine a qualitative and quantitative approach. Five interviews were conducted with employees from two municipal and two international housing companies and with the tenants´ association, Hyresgästföreningen. We have also examined annual reports and websites in the purpose of creating a basis on which a comparing analysis can be conducted. The theories used in this study are the Stakeholder theory and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Conclusions: CSR is an integrated part of municipal housing companies´ operations while it is used as means for international housing companies to achieve profit maximization. Municipal housing companies have altruistic motives while international housing companies have strategic and "egoistic" motives.