Cushman & Wakefield has released a summary of office market conditions in Warsaw. This year’s development activity is expected to fall to its lowest in nearly 25 years amid a record number of leases, falling vacancy rates and the continued upward pressure on rental growth. 

KREO, Ghelamco’s newest project in Kraków, has received an occupancy permit. More than 24,000 sqm of office space awaits tenants.

Futureal has announced the acquisition of the Lipowy Office Park complex in Warsaw. In alignment with its strategy, the company plans to reposition the development by transforming it into a sustainable, human-centric, and modern office building. Linklaters has advised the seller on the transaction.

Hungary's office market has slowed down, tenants are more cautious. Sadly, it often results in drawn-out decision-making as tenants focus on safe solutions, fearing the unpredictability of the future. In consequence, there are more renewals and fewer relocations. However, demand for experienced advisors providing high-added value is ever-growing, as the alternative – rectifying a poor lease contract after it is signed – is difficult and expensive, says Valter Kalaus, Managing Partner of Newmark VLK Hungary.

Q3 2023 did not bring much positive news from the Prague office market. Since Q2 2022, no office buildings have been launched on the Prague real estate market and the future does not look promising either, according to the latest analysis by Prague Research Forum. 

Office availability in the Warsaw office market is shrinking, with the vacancy rate for the whole city down to 10.6% and to just over 9% in the centre, says Savills. Tenants are, however, likely to enjoy a wider choice of options once more office projects are restarted. This process is already slowly getting underway, as is clear from the growing development pipeline.

New office lease and renegotiation agreements were signed for 158,923 sqm during Q3 2023, up 36% compared to the previous quarter on the Bucharest market, according to data from Fortim Trusted Advisors, a member of the BNP Paribas Real Estate Alliance.

Octava has sold the Obrzeżna Center office building in Warsaw to a Polish investor. The price has not been disclosed. Avison Young and Savills jointly represented the seller.

Swobodna SPOT is a new project by Echo Investment at 60 Swobodna Street in Wrocław. There will be a total of 41,600 sqm of leasable space in the project located in the city's business centre. Two office buildings and a green urban walkway connecting them were designed by architects from Kuryłowicz & Associates.

According to the latest report published by Newmark Polska, tenants in the Warsaw office market continue to carefully review their needs, including potential office locations, while landlords are actively adapting the standard of office space to occupier requirements. New leases, including pre-lets, accounted for more than half of all deals recorded in the third quarter, but renegotiations still represented a large proportion of total take-up. At the same time, there is still a strong interest in ESG solutions and their implementation.