Yorkshire landlords are "less inflexible" following recession

COMMERCIAL property landlords are no longer as “difficult or inflexible” as traditionally thought, according to a new survey.

The survey – commissioned by law firm Irwin Mitchell – found that 65% of businesses in Yorkshire consider that landlords offer sufficient flexibility to occupiers.

Only 20% of respondents say that they do not offer flexibility. 

Of those who said not, businesses in Yorkshire called for shorter leases and more flexible break clauses.

The survey, which questioned companies with employee numbers ranging from 200 to over 6,000, also found that location remains the most important factor for businesses when choosing premises, with 68% rating this first. This was followed by workforce accessibility (17%) and then cost (8%).

In total, 83% of businesses in the region said they intend to stay in the same premises for the next 12 months with 17% planning to relocate or take on more space.

The survey also asked about attitudes to online working practices with 40% considering that this will result in businesses requiring less office space in the future while 48% thought requirements would stay the same. 

Irwin Mitchell also asked about energy efficiency. Interestingly, although this was one of the least important factor in choosing premises, 85% of businesses said they think improving energy efficiency has benefitted or will benefit their business.

Occupiers were however realistic about who should address this. The majority of those surveyed do not just consider energy efficiency is landlords’ responsibility, with 65% saying it should be the joint responsibility of landlords and tenants.

Paul Firth, national head of real estate at Irwin Mitchell, said: “It is interesting that the attitude to landlords seems to be changing, with businesses feeling landlords are more flexible and accommodating than in the past.

“Perhaps this is a function of the market in the last few years, whereby landlords have had to improve their offer to attract the best tenants in difficult markets.”