Take up and supply reasonably stable
The take up of offices in 2011 was reasonably comparable to the two preceding years. In total, 1.25 million m² were taken up, 1.5% more than the previous year. The trend in supply is striking. Last year, supply stabilised at 7.15 million m².

Number of transactions hardly lower
The belief is that fewer companies are taking up office space, but the opposite is true. In the crisis years (2009-2011), the number of rental transactions fell only slightly in comparison with the period 2006-2008. Although the take up volume is still substantially lower, this is because much less large-scale real estate is desired.

Vacancy levels too high but distinction is lacking
It is obvious that the vacancy levels within the office market are too high. The biggest worry, however, is that in the coming years much higher vacancy levels will arise and there is no off-the-cuff, national solution. Vacancy levels are in reality a highly local problem. By no means all areas experience this problem to the same extent, while this is discounted in the price trend.

More focus on tackling problems
It is widely acknowledged that the problems within the office market require broad-based solutions and that such solutions require new relationships and new actors. Currently, plans are being scrapped, new building production is declining steeply and more and more buildings are being withdrawn from stock. The latter is especially striking: last year, the amount of office space that was withdrawn from the market doubled.

Further fall in average rents
It comes as no surprise that rents fell last year. Investors offer extra concessions to users to keep them in the building. This can be achieved by lowering rents, but also by supplying incentives, which remain part of the agreements with users. To prevent tenants from leaving the building
prematurely, however, a number of investors are spreading the benefits for the user over the term of the lease.