Unlocking the value of flex: How landlords can evolve with demand

It’s no secret that flexible workspaces have become a crucial component of the commercial real estate (CRE) sector. 

Our own research last year uncovered that, on average, UK office landlords believe that more than half (54%) of their office space will be dedicated to flexible or coworking environments by 2030. Even more strikingly, 10% expect their entire portfolio to be taken up by flex.

The reasons that so many landlords are embracing flex are increasingly well known:

1. Demand for flexible workspaces is on the rise; for instance, data from Savills shows that enquiries for flexible office spaces rose 206% between 2019 and 2024.
2. As demand rises, landlords can improve occupancy rates by catering to the wide range of organisations – little and large alike – favouring flex over traditional private offices (and long-term, inflexible leases).
3. Equipping buildings with a rich variety of facilities and services, in turn building a strong membership base, can not only boost CRE valuations, but also help to future-proof the asset.

So, it’s clear why landlords should incorporate flex into their portfolio, but a key question remains: How do you successfully create a compelling flex offering?

Why partnerships can make the most sense

The first decision to be made is choosing the right operating model – landlords have three principal options:

1. Do it yourself – Convert, market, and operate the space independently.
2. Use a third-party – Hand the keys over to a third-party operator using a traditional lease agreement.
3. Collaborate – Partner with a flex operator to create a bespoke, white-label space.

For many office landlords, while they know that implementing flexible workspaces to respond to changing demands is vital, they lack the resources, time, or expertise to manage the process themselves – and that’s where partnerships come in.

By partnering with an experienced, white-label operator like infinitSpace, landlords can get the best of both worlds. They can benefit from the operational know-how and marketing acumen that an experienced operator provides, but they do so without having to sacrifice control over the space and the brand. This is our speciality – helping landlords launch flexible workspaces under their own brand and seamlessly integrating flex into their buildings.

Meeting modern employee expectations

Choosing the right approach for creating and operating the flex space is the all-important first step. The next question – and the partner or operator can help here – is to determine exactly what the flex offering looks like.

First and foremost, the expectations and demands of modern employees have evolved with the rise in flexible and hybrid working patterns. Flexible workspace users, both businesses and individuals, want more than just a desk and an office chair. They want attractive, service-rich and tech-enabled workspaces for their employees – ultra-fast WiFi, ergonomic furniture, and plenty of collaborative areas, for example. 

Then there needs to be top-quality hospitality amenities that bring a sense of community and belonging. Incorporating event spaces where users can network and collaborate is a necessity, running wellness programmes that support users’ mental and physical wellbeing, and having a dedicated in-house community team can take your space from good to great. 

Here at infinitSpace, we support landlords in realising their goal of implementing flex into their buildings. Whether that’s a single or multiple-floor office space, we enable landlords to offer world-class workspaces designed to evolve with the demands of modern users. 

Setting up your own flexible workspace and want to partner with an industry leader? Get in touch with the team today!