Growth of flexible working locations in London is lowering the costs of office space

There is a boom in the number of new flexible working locations opening in Central London, which has seen a growth of 42 percent year-on-year. According to the new report by Office Freedom this growth is driving ever more competitive rates and lowering the cost of all kinds of office spaces within the capital. Over the last two years, office prices in Hammersmith have fallen by 29 percent, whilst Paddington is 32 percent cheaper as a direct result of greater flexible space availability. The rates in prestigious Knightsbridge are still amongst the highest in Central London, but have dropped by 38 percent between 2014 and 2018. The report also links the boom in flexible office space take-up to changes in accounting standards. The revised standards bring future lease obligations onto the balance sheet and therefore makes short term flexible leases more attractive. Companies are considering the balance sheet and profit and loss impacts of a ten year lease compared with those of flexible offices and this is now a key financial consideration.

Richard Smith, CEO of Office Freedom comments: “The increase in availability of flexible working spaces from new operators and attractive terms have maintained pressure on workstation rates. Whilst areas such as Mayfair and Knightsbridge continue to demand the highest average workstation rates at nearly £900, rates can be as low as just £328 in East London.”

He continues: “Flexible workspaces are booming and we are seeing more and more large corporates, such as Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft embracing the benefits that flexible workspaces bring. Savvy businesses, large and small, can easily look at the average workstation rates and see where they can make substantial savings.”

Richard Smith points to employers’ reluctance to lease property for long periods of time, commenting:  “There are market uncertainties due to Brexit, but businesses increasingly want to be able to react whatever conditions they face. Flexible workspaces allow businesses to scale up or down on demand and only pay for the space they need.”

What’s more with 95 percent of workers citing the office environment as being important to their wellbeing and mental health, Richard Smith believes that flexible workspaces can offer employers a real boost. “Companies appreciate the link between modern workspaces and employee productivity and wellness, and the right environment can have a beneficial effect on staff recruitment and retention.”

The ‘Flexible Workspace Boom’ report can be downloaded free from the Office Freedom website