Budapest’s office market statistics for Q1 2021 continued to reflect the uncertainties and economic slowdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. While quarterly demand remained somewhat weaker than in previous years, the gap narrowed as the number of transactions showed recovery, according to the Budapest Research Forum (BRF).
In the first quarter of 2021, 24,700 sqm of new office space was delivered to the Budapest office market. Univerzum Office Building (22,000 sqm) was handed over in the South Buda submarket and JA4 Loft Offices (2,700 sqm) was delivered in the Non-Central Pest submarket.
The total modern office stock currently adds up to 3.935.990 sqm, consisting of 3.296.520 sqm of Class A and Class B speculative office space as well as 639.470 sqm of owner-occupied space.
As a result of BRF’s annual stock revision, 32 buildings’ GLA has been amended as of Q1 due to re-measurement or refurbishment over the past year, a total of 24,920 sqm office space has been moved to owner-occupied stock and one office building was excluded from the speculative office stock.
The office vacancy rate has slightly decreased to 9%, representing a 0.1 pps decrease quarter-on-quarter and a 2.8 pps increase year-on-year. In line with the preceding quarters, the most occupied submarket is the North Buda submarket with a 4.8% vacancy rate whereas the highest vacancy rate remained in the Periphery (27.5%).
Net absorption rebound to positive territory during the quarter, as the total occupied stock increased by 5,240 sqm adjusted for size revisions.
Total demand reached 74,900 sqm in Q1 2021, representing a 13% decrease quarter-on-quarter and a 6% decrease year-on-year. Renewals still made up the largest share of total leasing activity with 48%, followed by new leases in the existing stock with 41%, expansions of existing premises reached 6%, while pre-leases in new developments amounted to 3% and owner-occupation was 2% of the total demand.
The strongest occupational activity was recorded in the Váci Corridor submarket, attracting 51% of the total demand. The South Buda and Central Pest submarkets equally ranked second in this respect with 13% share each, and CBD attracted 8% of the total demand.
According to the BRF, 120 lease agreements were concluded in Q1 2021. The average deal size amounted to 624 sqm. The BRF registered five transactions concluded on more than 2,000 sqm office space, including three renewals and two new leases.
The largest new agreement was signed for a total of 7,180 sqm by Huawei in Agora Hub and Agora Tower office buildings, while the largest renewal was an 11,500 sqm deal in the Thirteen Globe office building. The largest pre-lease deal was concluded for 1,370 sqm office space by Randstad in Green Court Office.
The Budapest Research Forum (BRF) comprises CBRE, Colliers International, Cushman & Wakefield, Eston International, JLL and Robertson Hungary.
