When evaluating assets, Rutman says the pandemic is still influencing the occupier market and investors should take note of the key features occupiers are now looking for.

“Requests for better ventilation, access to a terrace or an outdoor space, more natural light, and accessibility by all forms of transport have all increased as a result of the pandemic,” Rutman says. “Before the pandemic, cark parks with office buildings were looking like they were a thing of the past but they are once again very relevant because people want flexibility when it comes to transport. Offices need to offer car and bike parking, access to public transport, and end of trip facilities.

“Another key trend we are seeing is occupiers no longer needing their office location to be in traditional thoroughfares, which means investors can diversify their portfolio to include the city fringes because there is a long-term future in investing outside of traditional office spaces.”

When looking to increase the value of your portfolio, Rutman says responding to what tenants want is key to ensuring your assets remain relevant.

“Build out your value proposition and you will be able to achieve a higher rent from tenants, which will increase the value of your portfolio,” he says.

“You need to provide more than a desk, people want a range of experiences and amenities like a café, gym, and end of trip facilities so they can work, live, and play at the office. With many employees able to work effectively from home, the phrase ‘earn the commute’ to give people plenty of reasons to come to the office is central to any strategy to future-proof a portfolio.

Engaging a trusted advisor to review your portfolio and provide strategic advice is an excellent way to take the guess work out of future-proofing your assets.

“At JLL we help landlord and owners by conducting health checks on their portfolio to review assets and provide advice on leasing opportunities, outgoings, property management, market perceptions and potential fit-out needs,” Rutman says.

“Understanding what the supplier pipeline looks like and how you are placed to meet those needs goes a long way to future-proofing your portfolio. For example, having the flexibility to be able to subdivide floors to different sizes to be able to accommodate more or different tenants is a huge advantage to have in the current market.

“At every life stage of your asset we can provide advice, help with due diligence and investigate ways to extract value and connect you with several JLL expert teams to ensure you are getting the best out of your property portfolio.”