As local businesses emerge from lockdown and re-think their office space requirements, a new local co-working and flexi space broker launches to help companies with space needs analysis, sourcing, cost negotiations and contractual support.

SiSebenza Spaces, a division of SiSebenza; the local coworking and flexi office experts, has disrupted both the local property and tech markets by becoming South Africa’s first online aggregator of co-working, flexi, shared, and virtual office spaces. 

As the largest flexible office space marketplace in South Africa, sisebenzaspaces.co.za currently houses over 250 locations available to companies on flexible terms.  

‘Because we know what’s out there, we help our clients decide what sort of premises best suit their needs, we source the ideal property for them, and we negotiate with the landlord on their behalf,’ Andrew Robinson, co-founder & executive director of SiSebenza Spaces, explains. ‘Our experience enables us to get the best outcome for every client.’

The company’s focus is on space as a service rather than a liability. Robinson says, ‘the space as a service business model is a bit like a subscription service. You take the space for as long or as short as you need it, and pick the added-value services you want, like a receptionist, access to meeting rooms, etc. You pay only for what you use.’

According to the Office Vacancy Report released by the SA Property Owners Association (SAPOA) in April, national vacancy rates for Grades A and B offices was at 11.1% for the first quarter of 2020. This is the worst it has been since early 2004. SAPOA said they expected to see vacancy rates increase sharply over the rest of 2020 and into 2021 as more companies close. 

Robinsons says landlords who accept that they need to do away with historical rental models will be much more successful at letting their property and much more able to keep their premises occupied. SiSebenza Spaces offers additional support to landlords and large corporates locked into long leases, looking to sub-let that space.

Although different sized companies have different space requirements, most have other needs in common. ‘All are wary of long leases, all need to focus their attention now on business recovery, and none want to waste precious time looking at premises, that’s where we can help,’ says Robinson.

SiSebenza Spaces is seeing distinct property trends. The main consideration for big companies is to mitigate health and safety risks for their workforces which means staggered working days for a distributed workforce, different office spaces for different teams, more space for each person, or a hybrid solution of these and other options. Medium-sized companies are focused on cost-cutting now if they are to survive. And small businesses need to be where they can network so they can thrive and grow. 

‘Our team of office space service stars take the hassle out of office renting – they’re available to assist with space search, tours and negotiations. We do the legwork too to make our clients’ dream office a reality,’ he says.

There is an ideal space for every requirement, and with more than 200 properties nationally on its books, SiSebenza Spaces can quickly and easily help clients find theirs.