Landlords must think creatively to meet needs of start-ups

摘要

It's a problem for the entire property industry that London is becoming too expensive for start-ups. The risk is mounting that high-growth tech and creative businesses will start to run to other cities in search of the value that is becoming increasingly difficult to find in our capital. At Kontor, even though we do find amazing spaces for occupiers in London, we're continually approached by clients seeking better-value opportunities in other areas of the UK and internationally, where it's cheaper both in terms of living costs and office space. Not only are our fledgling businesses leaving our capital, but we will also struggle to attract overseas start-ups into our fold due to rising costs. The UK, in particular London, is the tech and creative leader within Europe, but although the TMT sector accounted for the highest take-up in central London in 2015, there's a huge disparity between what new start-ups want and what London is providing. The question is whether the property industry is shooting itself in the foot by trying to achieve premium rents now that could cutoff the potential for economic growth later down the line.