40% of Indian Office Occupiers Worry Over Quality Space Availability Through 2028: CBRE
Nearly 40 percent of corporate office occupiers in India are concerned about finding and securing well-located, high-quality workplaces through 2028, according to CBRE’s 2026 India Office Occupier Survey. The findings reveal an intensifying demand for premium buildings within central business districts, even as supply in top hubs faces constraints.
What Happened
Real estate consultancy firm CBRE published its 2026 India Office Occupier Survey, highlighting strong demand and emerging supply-side pressures across the country’s commercial real estate market. The survey outlines that businesses are prioritizing superior physical real estate to support corporate growth and elevate employee experiences.
Among organizations contemplating relocation, 55 percent are specifically targeting upgraded, higher-quality facilities. This flight to quality is already impacting absorption trends across prime locations. According to CBRE, investment-grade properties represented 41 percent of overall office leasing activity during 2025 through the first half of 2026. In core micro-markets, that figure reached 46 percent of total transactions, while investment-grade assets made up 57 percent of new building completions during the same timeframe.
Key Highlights
- Occupier Concerns: Close to 40 percent of Indian office occupiers worry about securing high-grade office assets in prime locations through 2028.
- Relocation Priorities: Among businesses planning office moves, 55 percent are focused on securing better-quality premises to support staff experience and company expansion.
- Focus on Established Hubs: Approximately 47 percent of survey respondents prefer core or mature commercial hubs for upcoming office setups, with another 25 percent favoring a mix of core and secondary areas.
- Leasing Share: Investment-grade properties accounted for 41 percent of aggregate office leases between 2025 and H1 2026, and 46 percent in core micro-markets.
- Modern Criteria: Beyond physical space, companies are factoring in AI-enabled setups, flexible working environments, and convenient commute links.
Why This Matters
The findings indicate a structural shift where companies are prioritizing location strengths and asset quality over purely cost-driven decisions. CBRE noted that established business hubs remain favored due to a convergence of mature infrastructure, broader talent pools, and comprehensive multimodal transit options.
Because high-grade supply in core business districts remains limited, organizations that delay real estate decisions risk missing out on prime addresses. For commercial property owners and developers, the findings emphasize the need to build top-tier inventory, enhance transit connectivity, and consider modernizing older structures to align with tenant requirements. Additionally, the report outlines an opportunity for developing high-grade office parks in select Tier-II markets to absorb spillover corporate demand.
What to Watch Next
CBRE advises businesses looking to expand or relocate to organize their real estate requirements well ahead of time to manage the tight availability of investment-grade space. Observers will also be watching whether landlords upgrade aging commercial properties and if quality office developments expand into selected Tier-II cities to meet demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are occupiers concerned about office spaces through 2028?
Around 40 percent of businesses worry that well-located, high-quality commercial spaces will be scarce, particularly in established business districts where supply remains constrained.
What proportion of firms prefer established commercial locations?
CBRE’s survey found that 47 percent of corporate respondents prefer setting up in core or established districts, while an additional 25 percent opt for a balanced combination of core and non-core locations.
What features are companies prioritizing in workplaces?
In addition to basic building quality, firms are evaluating flexible workspaces, multimodal commute access, and AI-enabled infrastructure as key elements of their workplace strategies.
Source: CBRE 2026 India Office Occupier Survey, reported via ANI.