The demand for commercial spaces within residential complexes is on the rise, with rental rates nearly returning to pre-war levels, reported Anna Laevskaya, the commercial director of "Intergal-Bud," to the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
"Currently, the demand for commercial spaces in residential complexes is rapidly increasing. This is particularly true for stores, supermarkets, service sectors, and educational institutions such as schools and kindergartens. Operators are actively expanding, moving into new premises, and overall, this segment is developing even better than the apartment market," Laevskaya stated.
According to her, the developer retains properties in its rental fund where the payback period is up to 12 years. If it exceeds this timeframe, they are usually sold. The developer offers flexible payment conditions, loyalty programs for those who pay the full amount upfront, and installment options.
Investors are interested in commercial spaces at various stages: both at the foundation stage and when the property is already completed. This depends on the location and payment conditions. In terms of area, supermarkets typically seek between 800 to 1500 sq. m, cafes or coffee shops up to 100 sq. m, and private clinics can range from 150 to 300 sq. m. Smaller properties sell faster due to lower costs.
"We always approach the selection of tenants purposefully. We want the complex to have a pharmacy, a clinic, a grocery operator, educational institutions, and services. In other words, we are creating a complete infrastructure. For instance, if there is already a grocery store, we offer another space to a business that will meet another need of the residents," she explained.
She noted that rental rates have nearly returned to pre-war levels, but this depends on the specific property, its location, traffic, and functionality. In residential complexes with high occupancy, prices can even be higher due to the large flow of people and vehicles.
All commercial lots consider requirements for inclusivity, energy efficiency, and safety.
In particular, all spaces have either ground-level entrances or ramps with the correct slope. Generators provide backup power for all premises, although this is not always critical for commercial properties as they are usually located on the first floor. Tenants are currently actively purchasing storage spaces in basements and arranging individual shelters for their employees there, so these areas are now being used not only as storage but also as protective zones.
The construction company "Intergal-Bud" has been operating in the residential real estate market since 2003. The company's portfolio includes 184 projects. In 2024, nearly 358.5 thousand sq. m of real estate was built and put into operation, equivalent to 3.8 thousand apartments in 20 buildings.
According to Opendatabot data, the income for 2023 amounted to 959.2 million UAH, with a net loss of 22.9 million UAH. For the first three quarters of 2024, the income was 636.4 million UAH, with a net loss of 51 million 457 thousand UAH.