Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in London typically cluster in City of London, plan ~215 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($220–320/sqft), and pay around 95 GBP/sqft ($121 USD) on Class A.

  • Preferred submarket: City of London.
  • Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($220–320/sqft).
  • Plan ~215 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
  • Class A rent context: 95 GBP/sqft ($121 USD).
  • Typical lease: 10 years with 24 months rent-free.
  • Talent depth in London: 96/100.

Real estate and infrastructure office space in London

Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in London typically cluster in City of London, plan ~215 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($220–320/sqft), and pay around 95 GBP/sqft ($121 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

  • Preferred submarket: City of London.
  • Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($220–320/sqft).
  • Plan ~215 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
  • Class A rent context: 95 GBP/sqft ($121 USD).
  • Typical lease: 10 years with 24 months rent-free.
  • Talent depth in London: 96/100.

Where they cluster

Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in London typically anchor in City of London. Investment banks, insurance, asset managers, law firms, professional services.

What they pay

Class A rent in London runs 95 GBP/sqft ($121 USD) on a 10-year lease with 24 months free. Trophy submarkets command a 20–40% premium above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical real estate and infrastructure fit-out targets high-end specification at $220–320/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 215 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount real estate office in London typically targets 21,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Sponsor and asset-management teams favor trophy CBD addresses with proximity to investment-banking and law-firm tenancy. Largest financial-services and technology talent pool in EMEA. Average all-in compensation indexes 96 vs. New York's 100.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 25%. London leases are predominantly Full Repairing and Insuring (FRI). Tenant pays service charge and is responsible for dilapidations on lease end. Rent reviews to open-market rent every 5 years are standard. Rent-free periods of 18-30 months on a 10-year term are typical, with 'capped' rent-free for break-clause certainty. Personal guarantees are uncommon for institutional tenants; rent deposits are common for younger covenants.

Key facts

cityLondon
industryReal estate and infrastructure
naics531, 237
preferredSubmarketCity of London
preferredFitoutSpecHigh-end
fitoutBand$220–320/sqft
sqftPerSeat215
classARentLocal95 GBP/sqft/yr
classARentUsd$121/sqft/yr
vacancyPct8.6%
typicalLeaseYears10
typicalRentFreeMonths24
talentIndex96
corporateTaxPct25%

Frequently asked questions

Where do real estate and infrastructure occupiers lease office space in London?
Most cluster in City of London. Rent runs ~95 GBP/sqft ($121 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do real estate and infrastructure occupiers run in London?
Typically high-end at $220–320/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a real estate and infrastructure occupier plan in London?
Plan ~215 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,500 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the real estate and infrastructure vertical?
Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 531, 237.
What is the talent index in London?
96/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

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Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Samuel Okafor — EMEA contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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