Savills has presented a preliminary summary of 2022 and predicted key trends for the coming months. The commercial property market in Poland is facing uncertainty and rising prices but remains underpinned by strong fundamentals, which bodes well for the future, reveals Savills.

Savills, along with its flexible office specialist Workthere.pl, anticipates that flex office stock in Europe will reach circa 20% of total office stock across the continent over the next 10 years. However, this will vary significantly by location and working culture, as the definition of what is considered ‘flex’ broadens.

Investment into the world’s office markets fell sharply in Q3 2022, however, there is plenty of capital still circulating poised to target the best assets, as well as any areas of discount, as debt-backed buyers withdraw and others pause decision-making. The Czech market is copying the global market, but the number of opportunities for buyers to source a ‘bargain’ is limited, says Savills in its latest Capital Markets Quarterly report. 

Savills forecasts that rising energy prices will be a major challenge for commercial property landlords, managers and tenants in 2023. In response to market expectations, Savills has launched an interdepartmental service line dedicated to improving energy performance and helping identify ways to reduce annual energy consumption in buildings by up to 14%.

Kamil Kowa, Member of the Board and Head of the Corporate Finance & Valuation Department at Savills Poland, talked to Property Forum about the current slowdown in the Polish residential market, PRS funds' expansion and the forecast for private student accommodation in that country.

According to Savills, the total investment volume for Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Europe reached €11.7 billion in the first three quarters of 2022, a 130% increase on the same period in 2021 and a record high.

According to a survey conducted by Savills involving real estate investors with total EME assets under management exceeding €500 billion, European multifamily, big box logistics, urban logistics, CBD offices and student housing are the top five sectors that investors are looking to invest in over the next 12 months.

According to Savills, development activity has cooled dramatically in the Warsaw office market. There is currently close to 230,000 sqm under construction, of which just over 115,000 sqm is scheduled for completion in 2023–2024.

Interest in office space in Prague is not slowing down. Office demand is growing by tens of percents year-on-year, the vacancy rate is slightly decreasing and over 190,000 sqm is under construction, according to the latest office market analysis for Q3 2022 by the Prague Research Forum.

Real estate advisory firm Savills has extended its service offering to property investors, developers and owners in Poland to include strategic consulting department. The new business line will be spearheaded by Krzysztof Sakierski and Kamila Pereta-Krawczyk, who joined Savills in early October.