Click here For most commercial tenants approaching the end of their lease, a “Stay Vs Go” decision will be faced. Many important factors go into this decision and in 2020/2021, there will be even more to consider. COVID has led to a sudden and rapid change in the workplace landscape. There are new behaviours among tenants and their workers – some which will outlive the health crisis and influence “Stay vs Go” decisions for years to come. In addition, the need for most businesses to cut occupancy costs has led them to re-visit their property strategy. Landlords have responded to these changes quickly, adopting new flexibilities in their lease terms in order to hang on to good quality tenants and a steady income from their assets. 

Almost every industry has been turned on its head in 2020. In particular, client-facing industries have needed to adapt their services rapidly without knowing the outcome. Our collective shift into remote work has seen some businesses adapt to the change, but it hasn’t all been positive. Technology cannot be solely relied upon when it comes to touch, feel, and physical human connection. In our industry, no more is this absence of physical communication felt than in the area of design.

BRM’s design team has historically placed  people and connection at the heart of every project. So how will decisions ultimately be made? Will the loss of physical involvement in the design process (both ours and our clients’) be detrimental to the outcome? Back in March, as we packed up our colour schemes and moved our design programs into our living rooms, we prepared to face some daunting challenges. This is how we’ve approached them….

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Transitions in the working landscape have occurred throughout history but they usually happen over the course of many years. The pandemic of 2020 has forced businesses across the world to transform their entire workplace models within only a few months. Most workplaces have adapted to these changes well and recognise that the future of work will look different.

The moratorium may have been extended to the end of December, but businesses still need to plan for the future direction of their workplace. Workplaces will never be the same. People’s expectations have changed in terms of what they want and need from an office and this will significantly impact future property decisions.

The “Hub and Spoke” is an approach that we have helped clients implement as they face growth, downsizing or other major changes within their organisation. When executed correctly, the Hub and Spoke method can improve business’s bottom line while boosting productivity, performance and wellbeing among staff. 

The pandemic has dramatically altered many aspects of life. The workplace in particular has undergone rapid changes with organisations having to re-assess the way they work and re-structure business models in order to survive. Our collective working from home experience has taught us a lot about how our people work. Businesses can now use this knowledge to better understand behaviours, technologies and space before committing to change.
 
No workplace will be the same and as we adapt to our new normal the need to involve our people is paramount. There is an opportunity to harness the best of both pre and post COVID work styles. BRM assists organisations to survey, engage and get their people involved in order to explore preferred and future ways of working.

Back in April and May BRM ran a series of webinars titled "Where To Now For Commercial Tenants". The series explored a range of issues surrounding the uncertainty faced by both landlord and tenants as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As we continue to be in the grip of this world-changing health crisis, BRM is looking back to the key points we've learned as we've crossed each stage together with our clients. 

​The partnership between commercial landlords and tenants has never been more important. As we move deeper into unchartered waters, this partnership is likely to influence crucial decisions, and in some cases, present opportunity for both sides.
 
In the wake of substantial change to workplace circumstances, many businesses are questioning how they can better utilise their space and cut occupancy costs. In particular, those nearing the end of their lease in the next 6-12 months need to make the immediate choice to stay in their existing space or walk away

No-one could have predicted that the way we work would change so dramatically in such a short period of time. This sudden change has led to dialogue around “the future of the office” with real estate and design experts eager to see what the long term office landscape will look like.
 
But more deserving of our attention right now, is the current state of the office landscape. How will businesses approach a re-entry into the office after the latest lockdown? What are the short term implications of these lockdowns on our office space? Two things are certain:
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1.The office itself will never completely disappear and there will always be a need for it in some form or another
2.When we eventually return, it won’t be to the office as it was pre-COVID

​Here are some of the considerations around office space right now:

The end of the Jobkeeper period is fast approaching as businesses begin to prepare for a new normal after lockdown.

​Over the last few months conversations have taken place between commercial tenants and landlords as they settle on rental relief agreements. Historically, landlords and tenants have not been expected to act in the best interest of the other party. But COVID has forced us to come together and be considerate of each other’s position. This new found co-operation will hopefully re-define the commercial landlord-tenant relationship and answer the following questions in the immediate aftermath of lockdown: