Due to the increase in prices of electricity, utilities, services and minimum wage, as well as local taxes and fees, experts from Avison Young Poland are experiencing significant increases in operating costs in office buildings this year. In Warsaw, depending on the class of the property and the components of the operating costs, they have observed an increase ranging from 15% to as much as 30-40%. Tenants are now paying particular attention to the components of the settlement that may vary depending on the building, as well as technological solutions that allow for reducing utility consumption.

There is growing interest in mixed-use projects in the Czech Republic. These are spaces that combine offices, shops, housing, and various forms of social activities. Unfortunately, the construction of such spaces in the Czech Republic still lags behind that in neighbouring countries. The main reason for this is the very long building permitting processes. In Poland, for example, it takes only a few months to get a building permit, whereas here it usually takes years.

Real estate decision-making and people-centric strategies are becoming more integrated, according to CBRE’s 2023 European Occupier Survey. For the first time, CBRE carried out the same survey for global companies having an operation in CEE to point out major differences in workplace culture across the various geographies.

Hungarian property developer and investor Indotek Group currently owns real estate in Hungary and eight foreign countries and is actively screening opportunities in five others. The portfolio consists of office, retail, hotel and industrial properties. Property Forum asked Krisztián Hornok, Managing Director of International Transactions and Asset Management about the reasons for the large-scale expansion and ways of handling risks in this region.

Romanian lender Banca Transilvania has leased 10,000 sqm of office space in Green Court A, the building in northern Bucharest owned by Globalworth.

Skylight City, an office building developed by Hungarian company Wing, has received a Very Good rating under the BREEAM In-Use sustainability certification scheme. The certification highlights the water and energy-efficient management and operation of the building.

One month before the handover, the RoseVille office complex obtained an occupancy permit in the northern part of the Hungarian capital. The building, developed by Atenor, offers 15,500 sqm of rentable space and will be opened in July this year.

The metamorphosis of the Marynarska Business Park office complex implemented in Warsaw’s Służewiec district by PineBridge Benson Elliot and Syrena Real Estate is nearing completion. Work has been finalised on the outdoor area, replacing a 6,000 sqm concrete car park with a green park open to the city, covered with green hills. The project is changing its name to Diuna.

Fit-out company COS has launched the Research & Development (R&D) workspace centre Masia in northern Bucharest, following an investment of €1.6 million.  

The complex is one of the largest in the local office market. It was developed by the Hungarian company Wing and now has become a multi-tenant office building. However, there is still 7,500 sqm of space available to prospective tenants.