Alexandru Pascu, Regional Key Accounts Manager CEE at Atalian, spoke to Property Forum about the impact of ESG policies on the demand structure for facility management services and the growing role of technology in shaping the buildings of the future.

The Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector is recording an increase in rents across Europe, consolidating a trend that has been observed in recent years. On average, rents increased by 9.7% (970 BPS) in the academic year September 2021–September 2022, with some significant spikes in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), according to research by Bonard. The growth of rents is shaped by the interplay between increased demand and rising inflation and interest rates.

REICO ČS LONG LEASE, managed by REICO IS ČS is acquiring the APS consumer battery manufacturing site located in Gniezno, Poland. The value of the fund's new acquisition amounts to approximately CZK 511 million (€20.4 million). The fund has already added this third property to its portfolio since its inception in May last year.

Hagag Development Europe has received the building permit for the consolidation and renovation works on Știrbei Palace located in central Bucharest. The developer will select a general contractor to start the transformation of the historical building in a high-end commercial gallery.

Romanian developer One United Properties has increased its share capital by €51.5 million in a bid to fund new residential investments in Bucharest.

With 83 companies, 1256 tickets sold and 56 teams, after a two-year break, JLL Poland is back to organising its flagship event – the 11th Real Estate Charity Beach Volleyball Tournament 2022. This year's tournament will take place this Thursday, August 4th at Monta Beach Volley Club at 12 M. Zaruski Street in Warsaw. Property Forum is a media partner of the event

Real estate advisory firm Savills has been appointed as property manager for Widok Towers, the most centrally located skyscraper in Warsaw. The mandate follows many years of cooperation with German Commerz Real AG, the owner of the property, on Tulipan House and Millennium Park A.

The investment volumes in Romanian residential projects reached 4.6 billion lei (€933.5 million) in the first quarter of 2022, which was up 50% compared to the same period of last year, according to a report by real estate consultancy Colliers.

The Czech real estate investment volume reached €1.15 billion in the first half of 2022. This was a 60% increase and was mainly led by domestic investors who acquired properties worth more than €607 million. Even the number of transactions in Q2 surpassed Q1 of this year. Domestic buyers were involved in 11 of the 13 transactions in Q2, so the share of the domestic capital increased in total volume to 68%, Savills reported.

The property investment market in Romania totalled €518 million in the first half of 2022, up 30.5% compared to the same period of last year, with retail and office sectors driving deals, according to real estate consultancy Crosspoint Real Estate.