Warsaw Enjoying Record-Setting Office Activity in 2015

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According to a new report from Cushman & Wakefield, 2015 is on pace to see a record-breaking volume of office space take-up in Warsaw. In Q3 2015 alone, the leasing volume totaled 222,000 sq m and the vacancy rate fell for the first time since 2011.

According to Cushman & Wakefield's report, in Q3 2015 the total volume of office lease transactions on the Warsaw market reached 222,000 sq m, which equals the value recorded last quarter and represents a growth of 36% compared to Q3 2014. Due to such strong occupier interest, 2015 can already be hailed as a record year in terms of gross take-up which has reached 613,000 sq m, equaling the volume recorded over the entire 2014.

The largest lease transactions in the first three quarters of 2015 included Samsung's 21,000 sq m pre-let at the Warsaw Spire complex, PZU's 17,500 sq m lease in the Konstruktorska Business Center and EY's 13,500 sq m renewal at Rondo 1.

By the end of 2015, the total volume of lease transactions is expected to reach 800,000 sq m, which would be the highest value recorded so far on the Warsaw office market.

The growing demand is reflected in net absorption figures, which present the real change in the amount of office space occupied by tenants. The volume of net absorption recorded from January through September 2015 exceeded 220,000 sq m, representing a rise of nearly 25% on the value noted over the whole 2014. Assuming that the demand remains stable, the net absorption in 2015 may also reach a record-breaking volume.

As a result of strong demand, the vacancy rate in Warsaw dropped from 14.1% in Q2 2015 to 12.9% in Q3 2015, which represents the lowest figure since the beginning of 2014 and the first quarter-to-quarter decrease since 2011.

Office space supply in Warsaw is rising in line with the growing demand. In the first three quarters of 2015 nearly 240,000 sq m of office space was completed with occupancy permits, of which 90,000 sq m came to the market in Q3 2015 alone in four new office buildings, including Royal Wilanów (29,800 sq m) and Domaniewska Office Hub (27,000 sq m). This brought the total office stock in Warsaw to 4.63 million sq m. With 80,000 sq m scheduled for delivery by the end of 2015, this year's annual supply may total 320,000 sq m, which will be the highest value recorded on the Warsaw market since 2001.

According to Cushman & Wakefield's report, office supply is expected to grow next year due to strong developer activity with 430,000 sq m likely to be completed in 2016. However, some office projects scheduled for 2016 may be delayed. Strong development pipeline is likely to push vacancy rates up next year.

Office rents remained relatively flat in Q3 2015. Average prime rents in central districts stood at EUR 22-24/sq m/month and at EUR 16-18/sq m/month in buildings located close to Fringe borders. The monthly rent per square meter outside the city centre ranged between EUR 13 and EUR 15.5.

Richard Aboo, Partner, Head of Office department at Cushman & Wakefield, said, "The flattening of rental levels, especially in the older "class B" buildings, has triggered a surge in "new" demand as tenants, historically located in "C" class office space move to better quality space. This, coupled with a more optimistic outlook in the economy, is pushing tenants to rethink their real estate strategy and to consider relocating their offices to newer and better communicated office developments.

Katarzyna Lipka, Associate Director, Consulting & Research, Cushman & Wakefield, added, "Despite the record-breaking take-up volume noted in the first three quarters of 2015 and a decrease in the vacancy rate, the Warsaw office market remains a tenant-led market, which means that businesses leasing office space enjoy a stronger bargaining power in negotiations. This trend is likely to continue in 2016, which may lead to the pressure on rents, particularly in buildings of inferior location or schemes planned or under construction. As a result, next year will remain conducive to relocations and lease renegotiations."