H1 2026: WEAKEST RESULT IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS
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Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, the subdued economic market environment and structural changes on the demand side are reflected in the current result on the Essen office market: with take-up of just 18,000 sqm, the city recorded its weakest half-year result in more than twenty years and achieved only just over half of the prior-year volume. Particularly in smaller office markets, where the overall result often depends on just a few large-scale deals, stronger fluctuations in results are not unusual. Against this backdrop, the subdued half-year result in Essen, with take-up significantly below average, is only partially surprising.
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A key reason for the below-average half-year result is the absence of larger contracts. So far, no contract with over 3,000 sqm has been registered. By contrast, market activity in the small-space segment up to 1,000 sqm was considerably more dynamic. With a market share of just over 70%, this category was even well above the average level of 36%. The largest deal to date was concluded in the second quarter by the public administration sector, which leased around 2,300 sqm of office space in Weststadt.
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The prime rent has remained unchanged since the end of 2025 at €20.00/sqm and is achieved for modern office space in good city locations. The average rent currently stands at €13.90/sqm, representing a slight year-on-year decline of around 5%.