28% of old Grade A office space buildings has investment potential worth Rs 5,500 crores: JLL

        Older and outdated buildings are at risk of losing value compared to new buildings

MUMBAI, India, May 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate investors and landlords are missing income opportunities and cost savings as their assets age in Asia Pacific, says JLL (NYSE: JLL). Half of investment properties in prime locations in Asia Pacific are over 20 years old, leading the real estate firm to forecast that there is over USD 40 billion worth of unrealised value in aging and underperforming properties regionally.

Of the existing 642 million sq. ft. of Grade A office space in the top seven real estate markets in India, the top three -- Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Bengaluru -- comprise nearly 64% of the total stock, cited the firm's latest 'Unlocking Value in Real Estate' report. 28% of these buildings are more than a decade old, sans the latest facilities that newer buildings offer. Upgrading these buildings with modern amenities, designs and building technology presents a massive investment opportunity of an estimated INR 5,500 crores.

Without asset enhancement, offices, shopping malls, hotels, residential buildings and industrial facilities will lose relevance due to evolving end-user habits and preferences.

JLL's research reveals that rental rates for aged and outdated buildings are 10% to 40% lower than up-to-date, well-managed properties in similar locations. This marked difference in rates may also increase as newer post-pandemic designed buildings enter the market.

"The current pandemic situation has brought out a key change in workers' expectations in terms of workplace safety and amenities. In this new world of work, the existing buildings might not yield the same value as before the pandemic," says Harish MV, Managing Director and Head, Project & Development Services, JLL. "In a rapidly transforming real estate landscape, asset enhancement helps buildings to perform at their best and ensures that they evolve at the same pace as human preferences. While age of the building is one of the measures for identifying the need and potential of upgradation, we will also witness a trend of newer buildings undergoing or planning for development to keep up with the evolving trends in the market," he added.

Older buildings' energy and maintenance systems are often less efficient, leading to increased operating costs, making a strong case for investors and landlords to reconsider design and asset enhancement strategies for aging properties.

Driven by the accelerated demands for health and wellness features, enhanced human experience, sustainability and technology tools following the pandemic, JLL has identified five sectors that present the most potential for asset enhancement:

• Office - workplaces should be able to accommodate new modes of working such as safe and flexible spaces, wellness amenities, and new ways of charging for leases.
• Retail - malls must move fast in response to the accelerated rise of e-commerce, with implications for the size and use of space. The tenant mix is also changing, with more F&B and experiential retail features coming into play. 
• Industrial - warehousing and logistics are evolving to cater to the demands of same day delivery and increased levels of robotics, automation and increased sustainability targets. The future deployment of electric vehicles and drones will also have a significant impact on the bricks-and-mortar element of the logistics sector.
• Hotels - certain older properties are being converted and repurposed to co-living or serviced apartments, and other hotels are adopting proptech more quickly for operational efficiency.
• Residential - there are opportunities to develop co-living, senior living, student housing and mixed-use developments, while incorporating work-from-home and other lifestyle trends.

To download the 'Unlocking Value in Real Estate' report, please click here. To know more about JLL's Asset Enhancement Services, click here.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 91,000 as of March 31, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

In India, JLL has an extensive presence across 10 major cities (Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Coimbatore) and over 130 tier II & III markets with a cumulative strength of close to 12,000 professionals. Headquartered out of Mumbai, we are India's premier and largest professional services firm specializing in real estate. Our services cover various asset classes such as commercial, residential, industrial, retail, warehouse and logistics, hospitality, healthcare, senior living, data centre and education. For further information, please visit jll.co.in.