More offices are empty and energy efficiency is key

Photo: Depositphotos.com

More offices are being left empty in the Netherlands as people increasingly work from home and companies place tougher demands on quality, according to a new report from property advisory group Colliers

The number of office complexes with space rose 5% in the final quarter of last year, compared with the previous three months, and some 4 million square metres are currently on the market. 

“There is currently space available in 2,100 buildings,” said director of office real estate Reinoud Plantenga. “We see a clear shift since the last quarter of 2023. The combination of hybrid working, the rising number of bankruptcies and limited growth of office jobs, boosted the vacancy rate by 5%.”

It is the first time since 2015 that more office space has come on the market. In 2015, some 8.5 million square metres were up for rent. By September last year, that total had gone down to 3.7 million square metres, due in part to refurbishment, repurposing and in some cases, demolition. 

Companies are also placing more demands on their offices, which nowadays have to meet tougher environmental and energy efficiency standards. Offices that do not have at least an A+ energy label are now vacant for an average of two years, Colliers said. 

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