The lockdown period and the uncertainty of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic pushed some tenants to temporarily withhold their decisions in pending lease negotiations. Gross take-up climbed to 334,800 sqm in H1 2020, representing a 17% decrease on the same period in 2019, with most transactions having been commenced in the pre-pandemic environment. Cushman & Wakefield summarised H1 2020 on the Warsaw office market.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the sentiment on the Polish office market appears to be optimistic. Total office stock currently amounts to just over 11.3 million sqm, with Warsaw the undisputed leader, followed by Kraków. During the first six months of the year, tenant activity reached approx. 667,800 sqm, with new contracts accounting for more than half of take-up. Despite limited new supply (275,700 sqm in H1 2020), the vacancy rate increased to 7.9% (+40 bps Q/Q) in Warsaw and 10.2% (+70 bps Q/Q) in regional markets as at the end of Q2. Axi Immo summed up the first half of 2020 on the Polish office market.

At the end of Q2 2020, total modern office stock in the eight regional Polish cities amounted to 5.6 million sqm. The largest regional office markets are Kraków (1,483,300 sqm), Wrocław (1,186,100 sqm) and the Tri-City (868,400 sqm).

According to the latest report prepared by Cresa Poland, leasing activity reached nearly 52,600 sqm on the Kraków office market in the second quarter of 2020. Renegotiations accounted for 76% of the leasing volume, while new leases and expansions made up 15% and 9% of all deals, respectively.

The industrial real estate sector remains the least affected commercial real estate sector in Slovakia. In the second quarter, the market recorded solid leasing activity, reaching almost 120,000 sqm of industrial space. Cushman & Wakefield published its Q2 2020 snapshots for Slovakia’s office, retail and industrial sector.

Local real estate developer Forte Partners is planning to build 500 apartments on Calea Serban Voda in Bucharest. The residential building will be erected next to the developer’s U Center office project, which is currently underway. The company's second major residential project is valued at €200 million.

In terms of tenant activity, the major regional markets can speak of a better H1 than a year ago. Despite the expected slowdown, some companies continue to expand their business. JLL summarised the situation on the Polish office market at the end of H1 2020.

Local developer Crestyl Group has completed the fourth office building in its Dock district development project, located in Prague’s Palmovka area.

Calea Victoriei in Bucharest, the 2.8-kilometer-long artery between Piața Victoriei and Piața Națiunilor Unite, will continue to grow as an office and hotel hub in the upcoming years, with the developers' plans to build seven new office buildings and six hotels as a result of investments that could exceed the €300 million threshold, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

GTC’s rental income suffered a €2 million decrease due to rent and service charge relief imposed by governments during the lockdown of shopping malls. Still, total rental and service charge revenues increased to €41 million in Q1 2020 from €39 million in Q1 2019. GTC presented its financial results at the end of Q1 2020.