Shaftesbuty has collected 88% of rent due and hailed a “strong rebound in confidence” despite Omicron restrictions.
In a trading update this morning, the West End landlord said the disruption caused by Omicron proved to be short-term, with footfall returning as office workers return to their desks. Shaftesbury added that 77% of rent for January had been collected.
Chief executive Brian Bickell said: “The strong rebound in confidence and activity since last summer continued into the important pre-Christmas trading period. While trading and footfall have been impacted by seven weeks of Omicron restrictions, strong trading prior to the restrictions and the continuation of government support measures have enabled our occupiers to weather this period of disruption.”
He added that “robust occupier interest” across the portfolio had helped the vacancy level to fall to 2.9%, close to pre-pandemic levels.
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