The mark that the banking and financial crisis, which began in 2008, has left on the UK’s capital is most notable in terms of property in the Canary Wharf district. Previously filled with banks and financial services companies, workers from the sector flooded in and out during the city’s rush hour.

Many countries across the world are changing the way they deal with overseas investors who wish to invest on their shores. Restrictions abound in many countries, from requiring native sponsors or partners to set up business, to additional taxes on foreign investment. Some may be surprised that the USA falls into the latter category. 

Investment from abroad continues to be imported when it comes to London’s high-level commercial property.  As an example, the Kuwait company, St Martins Group, is to buy the ‘More London’ site for in the region of £1.7 billion next month. 

London’s property market is as tight as ever at the moment, and there is increasingly more and more interest in the market from foreign investors. One example is of the realty developer, Lodha Group, who are based in Mumbai are now looking to buy more properties in central London after purchasing MacDonald House from the Canadian Government in the city. The cost of the purchase of MacDonald House is being over 300 million pounds, equating to around Rs 3,000.

Twenty Eight Queen Street, which is due to open any day now, is Ventia’s thirteenth central London site since the company’s inception three years ago: not only that – it is also the company’s third acquisition of the year. 

With the vacancy rate hovering just above 4% in the West End, it is becoming increasingly tighter with supply coming to an all-time low, due mainly to the fact there have been no new developments of any significance come to the West End market, how important is it for aspiring tenants to be represented? In my opinion whatever size, spec or budget you’re working to for your new office space it is vital to be represented when entering the market.

Over the past couple of decades, landlords incentives to a tenant for them to lease their office space have become standard across the UK and play a large part in negotiations when taking on a lease in the Central London office market. Most people looking for an office in Central London tend to know that they are entitled to some sort of rent free period when taking on a new leased office.

One of the key features of serviced offices is flexibility, and this benefit has resulted in an extremely wide range of occupiers. 

With the recent rapid growth of the TMT sector, we have seen demand and rents increase massively in a number of different sub-markets within Central London. The two areas which have seen the most significant growth are Clerkenwell and Shoreditch which are now seen as the two coolest places, not only to have an office but also to be seen in Central London.

With London’s property prices increasing steadily, another factor is set to add yet more fuel to the flames of the capital’s property market.  Crossrail, the rail project due for completion in 2018, it is predicted, will add up to 13% to the value of property, an increase which is set to take effect even before the infrastructure is complete.