News release

Central’s vacancy rate rises to a three-year high

Office tenants delay expansion plans amid increasing uncertainties in the global economy

August 19, 2019

HONG KONG, 19 August 2019 – Central’s office leasing market recorded negative take-up in July as corporate occupiers delayed expansion plans amid increasing uncertainties in the global economy, according to JLL’s latest Property Market Monitor released today. 

The Central occupier market contracted by 56,100 sq ft in July, pushing the vacancy rate up to a three-year high of 2.6%. However, the overall market recorded positive net take-up of 75,900 sq ft, driven by leasing activity outside of Central.

A number of notable new lettings in Hong Kong East, including Standard Chartered Bank leasing 18,700 sq ft at Oxford House to accommodate the expansion for their virtual banking arm and recent commitments at K11 Atelier King’s Road in North Point contributed to the vacancy rate tightening back down to 2.7%, the lowest among the city’s key office submarkets.

Alex Barnes, Head of Markets at JLL in Hong Kong, said: “Demand has notably reduced, particularly in Central, as overseas decision makers weigh up increasing global economic woes and the impact to Hong Kong. It will take time to register a lack of traditional demand into a meaningful rental reduction, without a significant spike in vacancy, or major new supply. Businesses feeling the brunt of economic conditions are unlikely to feel a 10-15% reduction in rent is meaningful, against the prospect of finding significantly cheaper alternatives.

Bucking the overall trend is co-working demand, which remains a beacon of hope for landlords carrying vacancy. The bulk requirements from operators means that landlords will likely hold-off on meaningful rental reductions over the short term. As occupiers become more concerned around business planning, it is likely that demand into co-working centres will increase.”

“In the office investment market, few properties changed hands during the month as investors digested the heightened uncertainty around the global economic outlook as well as the escalating civil unrest. Still, the drop in sales has had little impact on pricing with vendors continuing to hold firm on asking prices. Notably, a small unit in Admiralty Centre Tower 1 reportedly sold for HKD 200 million (HKD 30,465 per sq ft), representing a gain of 272% over a 10-year period,” said Denis Ma, Head of Research at JLL in Hong Kong.

Latest data on inbound tourism numbers have yet to reflect the full impact of the anti-extradition bill protests on the city’s retail market, with total visitor arrivals rising by 8.5% y-o-y in June. Total retail sales fell by 6.7% y-o-y during the same period, continuing the trend of previous months. The market for luxury goods suffered the greatest drop with the sales of jewellery and watches down 17.1% y-o-y.

Ma said: “most retails have adopted a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude towards expansion requirements amid the on-going protests. Among the few notable leasing transactions recorded, a retailer reportedly leased a two-storey shop (19,064 sq ft) at 100QRC in Central for a reported monthly rent of HKD 1.8 million, paying 10% less than the previous tenant.”

Period

Overall

Central

Wanchai /

Causeway Bay

Hong Kong East

Tsimshatsui

Kowloon East

 End-July   19

  5.3%

  2.6%

  3.2%

  2.7%

  3.4%

  12.7%

 End-June   19

  5.4%

  2.3%

  3.2%

  4.4%

  3.1%

  12.6%


About JLL

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