National CBD office sublease availabilities hit lowest levels since 2021

The national CBD office sublease volumes decreased to 200,304 sqm in Q3 2024 - the lowest level since early 2021 and nearing pre-pandemic levels.

CBRE’s Q3 Australian Office Sublease Barometer shows the national sublease volumes fell 44,703 sqm (-18.2%) over the quarter.

Sublease volumes in Melbourne fell by 34.3% and Brisbane declined by 21.8%. Subleasing volumes in Perth and Adelaide increased by 25.2% and 1.2% respectively.

The report showed sublease availability rates in Sydney remained flat over the quarter with a rate of 1.6%.

CBRE’s Associate Director of NSW Research Thomas Biglands noted, “The national declines were primarily driven by a reduction in sublease listings in Melbourne and Brisbane due to leasing activity in listed space, the reclassification of some sublease space as direct availability, and the withdrawal of some sublease space by occupiers.”

The report noted the slowing of listings from large corporate occupiers in the first half of 2024 continued in Q3. The average size of subleases shrunk to 1,565 sqm – a quarter-over-quarter decline of 26.5%. This average is nearing pre-pandemic levels and is the lowest average figure since 2021.

The report highlighted the largest contributors to sublease availability in Q3 were the Finance & Insurance sector and Technology, Media & Telecommunications sector. Volumes in each of these sectors declined over the past three months.

CBRE’s Pacific Head of Office Leasing Tim Courtnall noted, “These sectors accounted for a combined 52.7% of the national volume in Q3. These sharp declines in sublease volumes suggest the right-sizing cycle by corporate occupiers is nearing an end. We are also seeing a number of larger occupiers look through the current economic headwinds and start to think about future headcount growth. The other key contributing factor is the proactive approach of landlords assisting their customers and complete extensions, allowing for these tenants to surrender surplus space.”