In the Downtown Toronto Real Estate Market, Five Office Leasing Trends

Toronto has remained among the top cities to live in because of many reasons. Toronto is the home of many of the best teams in Canada’s sports as well as art, culture, major business opportunities, public health system and education. All of these are combined to make Toronto the perfect location to play and work.

However, they are contributing that are causing an overloaded market for office leasing. Factors that typically keep market demand in commercial real estate under the palm of a hand have drastically changed. In the current market, tenants are subject to landlord’s mandates, not the reverse. This is why there have been some changes that we’ve observed on the market for landlords which you must know about as a commercial tenant and some suggestions on how to ensure your safety.


1. Off-Market Office Leasing

Be aware that these deals in the market are happening every day before your eye. This means that the demand for office space is so great that agents who have connected and who transact every day will be able to find tenants whenever space becomes available, even before it is put in the marketplace.

If you are a renter, you can ask your agent these questions:

  • Over the course of a year how many transactions did you make? (Hopefully, you’ll have a minimum of 25-30.)

  • Do you ever do list-making for landlords? (If you do, then there’s an opportunity for conflict of interest.)

  • What’s the size of your team? (If you’re a group of four people, their deal count should be between 100 and 120 representing tenants exclusively.)

  • Are all of your efforts focused on commercial property? (Hopefully yes, but mostly on office leases.)

Beware: If you’re searching to lease office space avoid brokerages operating under a residential name. These brokers will have not-enough support staff for their industry and, typically they lack knowledge about the commercial aspect of the marketplace.

2. Multiple Offers On Good Spaces

If you are interested in a space, make an immediate choice and offer on the very next day. This is the first time that office space is being made in the same week in contrast to the past when it could take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to be offered the first time.

To increase your chances of securing the office space you desire:

Make sure you have the financials of your business, as well as credit scores as well as business information. If you include this information in your lease bid certain lease conditional periods for landlords are reduced to five days. It is possible to be granted smaller in the most ideal scenario.

  • Make offers that are firm. If you’re sure that you’re interested in the space, inform the tenant know. This removes any doubts.

Know what you can afford. Inquire that your agent provides you with updated choices regularly.

  • Tell the agent you’re looking to visit one location at a time to identify the best one. Set it as an absolute priority in your schedule.

3. Landlords Are Taking Spaces Back

We’ve seen landlords make the most of the current market rates instead of enforcing the original deals from the last two years instead of merely approving subleases. In a market for landlords, it might be better for the landlord to own the space instead of renting it out.

If a landlord wants to take the space they have leased back

Because this is predominantly an interaction business, you must ensure you are working with an experienced agent that your landlord trusts.

Inform your agent of how you plan to lease your space and then ask the landlord to sign a letter stating whether they’re considering getting it back.

  • Give the landlord up to 10 days to determine whether they have a tenant who might be interested in renting the space.

Learn more about the market value of the building. If the landlord wants to take back the space and you are interested in negotiating an offer to counter at market value.

4. Unfavourable Lease Terms

Landlords are drafting their own lease forms in more numbers than ever before, but with only a few modifications to satisfy tenant demands.

If you’re about to take a lease contract, think about these things:

Be sure to work with a professional who can navigate the leasing agreement from the beginning until the end.

  • Combine the knowledge of the agent along with the expertise of a lawyer experienced with the new leasing market and negotiation process. Together, they’ll inform you about the biggest risk to your mortgage instead of highlighting areas which pose no or little risk, and the landlord is likely to change their mind anyway.

Legal representation can be obtained through an introduction. The lawyer you choose is able to be a specialist in leasing law and be able to represent landlords as well as tenants.

5. Fewer Turnkey Spaces Available

Each unit needs a certain amount of construction. With a limited number of lease options in the current market, your ideal office will probably require a renovation.

In order to prepare for the office remodel in advance:

For major renovations make sure you set aside around 10 percent of your annual rent. This is a great method to determine the length of time you’d like to contact the lease. A lot of tenants are also asking for five-year leases.

Find a company that will take you to at minimum three current projects.

• Have a well-written contract that outlines the payment schedule as well as deadlines and the possibility of a settlement if circumstances don’t go according to plan.

  • To prevent issues that may arise during construction, you should regularly conduct walk-throughs and updates.

Commercial real estate brokers Toronto market is more popular than ever before, and finding space is becoming more difficult, yet there are many options to make it work. Maintain vigilance. Begin early and build the best team to ensure your success. Your employees are your greatest asset and are located in your workplace.

The effort you put into finding the ideal place that is ideal for you and your employees will be reflected in the overall quality of your organization’s culture, invigorating your employees to go to work with a sense of purpose and to work together

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