Posted on

New stamp duty and land taxes – what are their impacts on the property sector?

The end of the financial year has crept up on us once again. This means that not only is tax time almost here but the announcement of the Federal and State Budgets for the 2021-22 financial year.

After all announcements surrounding the budget were made, it was easily clear how the industrial and commercial property sectors were going to be impacted. Over the next year, the property sectors will see another round of tax hikes, leaving our sector to once again absorb additional tax burdens.

Property currently accounts for more than 40 percent of government revenue, and these tax increases brought on by the Victorian government could make Victoria a less desirable place to invest, with the potential to harm jobs and the property economy.

Victorian landowners will have to pay more in the form of significantly increased land tax costs on their business, through their commercial office spaces, and their industrial warehouses. The state will also see increases in stamp duty and a new tax on property investment and development. Stamp duty will be going up 13 per cent, while land tax will go up 15 per cent this year alone, on the back of substantial hikes in land tax over the past 2-3 years.

Both State Governments and the general public at large have the misconception that property owners are ‘millionaires’. The truth is that a large percentage of the residential investors are the ‘mum and dads’ who have scrimped and saved to enter into the residential investment market. Whereby property investment has out-stripped other forms of investment over the past 3-5 years.

Introducing taxes like these at a time when commercial CBD properties are struggling to find tenants, will put an extra burden on commercial real estate, which already struggled throughout 2020. With the land tax increases, being unable to be passed on directly to tenants (land tax is not a recoverable outgoing under the Retail Leases Act) landlords will have no other alternative other than to increase base rents.

These double-digit tax hikes are inevitably going to create a dent in the property investment market throughout Victoria. It is likely that the new government taxes will push current investors out of the Victorian market, and into other states. These Budget changes have reflected that there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the real estate sector throughout Victoria, and its contribution to the economy, especially its influence on our economic recovery, post-pandemic.

The State Government, in particular, is just gouging the buoyant property market, at a time when business is still struggling to come out the other side of constant 12-month COVID lockdowns. This won’t only impact investments, but also everyday Victorian businesses needing warehouses and offices to house and grow their businesses.

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) has since expressed its concern surrounding the budget announcements. REIV President, Leah Calnan, has said the tax hikes will make Victoria a less desirable place to invest, ultimately harming jobs and the economy. Continuing on to voice her concern, saying “If the Victorian Government is serious about jobs and housing it needs to invest in real estate, not attack it.”

The next few months will be a crucial time for the sector, as we witness the introduction of these new tax increases. While we will all work hard to adjust and keep the sector moving in a positive direction, the impact of these changes will be clear before the end of 2021.

 

Posted on

How is Keysborough keeping up with the times?

Did you know?

  • Keysborough is located 27km south-east of Melbourne’s central business district, and it falls into the local government area of the City of Greater Dandenong.
  • Keysborough was named after the Keys family who founded the town sometime after 1878.
  • The middle portion of the suburb only began featuring industrial developments in the early 2000s.

Keysborough is a prominent suburb within the industrial property scene, as it is where a lot of new larger developments are currently being built. Over the past 5 years, the Keysborough market and its increasing popularity have impacted other industrial areas throughout the Braeside/Mordialloc precinct.

Main roads running through Keysborough including the Dandenong Bypass, Cheltenham Road, Perry Road, and Braeside- Dandenong Rd, are some of the qualities of the Keysborough industrial market, as they create an abundance of access throughout the suburb.

The comeback of the Keysborough industrial market has been building over the past 5 years, but now with the road network improving further, more growth is expected. This comeback has also been strengthened by the new Frasers land subdivision and further speculative construction throughout the south-east suburbs.

Keysborough was also one of the industrial areas that experienced record low vacancies during the coronavirus pandemic, as a shortage for cold storage space and need for dangerous goods handling drove demand for sheds sky high throughout Melbourne’s south-east.

During 2020, Vincent Cold Storage took out a five-year lease on an 8655 sq m cold storage property in Keysborough, and it is suggested from past deals that industrial rents in Keysborough sit around $100 per sq, it is clear from this that industrial property in Keysborough is in high demand.

The suburb and industrial precinct will also benefit from a range of infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Victorian government, including transport infrastructure. The arterial road that connects the Mornington Peninsula freeway to the Dingley bypass, will improve access to the Dandenong South Employment and Innovation Cluster, which borders Keysborough, naturally extending access to the Keysborough industrial precinct. This will create an ever-stronger foundation for an already thriving industrial suburb, which will see further growth as new developments within Keysborough continue to take place.

Posted on

Major Melbourne hub at home in Moorabbin

Did You Know? 

  • Moorabbin is located 15km south-east of Melbourne’s central business district and is situated in the local government area of the City of Kingston.
  • Most of the eastern side of Moorabbin has been an industrial area since the first development in the mid-1960s
  • The east side of the suburb was originally home to the industrial hubs of companies such as Phillip Morris, Schweppes and Coca-Cola.

Moorabbin is recognised as one of Melbourne’s major industrial areas, along with its surrounding regions, including Moorabbin Airport.

Renowned in the industrial real estate industry as a leading industrial and commercial property hub, due to the abundance of warehouses and commercial properties located within the area.

Currently one of the biggest changes to the industrial and commercial market within Moorabbin surrounds the Moorabbin Airport Corporation (MAC) redeveloping the western parts of the apron and taxiway for commercial use, in order to expand its industrial precinct. While the master plans are yet to be approved their plan is to develop 44 hectares of land over the next eight years.

Other well-known or upcoming industrial estates within the Moorabbin area include the new Morris Moor development and Parkview estate. 

The Morris Moor development is gaining attention within Moorabbin as it will soon be home to an array of new tenants. This development is representing the significant demand for unique office space and commercial accommodation within the Moorabbin area. With an already strong mix of tenants from start-ups and technology, to fitness and food, the development provides the staff and tenants with a well-connected, diverse location that features an array of amenities, not normally found in the surrounding industrial areas.

The already developed Parkview estate is also one of the best- known industrial estates in the entire south-east, where all the major corporates are located within pristine gardens and amenities. Unlike many industrial and business estates, Parkview provides the perfect setting and location for a number of uses,  not just corporate use.

Surrounded by key main roads such as South Road, Warrigal Road and the Nepean Highway, the demand for the industrial property sector within Moorabbin can also be linked to infrastructure developments that are currently being undertaken or are to be launched over the coming months.

The area is only expected to grow further as transport infrastructure improvements throughout the south-east will directly benefit the Moorabbin industrial scene. The new Dingley Bypass, set to be finished in 2021, will allow improved access to industrial areas in Braeside and Moorabbin. Industrial property occupiers will naturally want to locate themselves closer to easily accessible and improved roads, leading to a further decrease in vacancy rates of industrial property in those areas.

The current improvements in the south-east industrial area, which Moorabbin are a part of, are expected to transform the industrial market for developers and even investors wanting to revisit their investment strategy to move alongside any changing market dynamics. Moorabbin, while currently a strong industrial hub, is only expected to become more in demand in the future.

Posted on

As government stimulus comes to an end, what is happening in the commercial property sector?

As Australians get closer to the end date for a range of government stimulus packages, speculation about what this means for the commercial property market has begun. The end of support packages such as JobKeeper, land tax reduction, and landlord assistance is assumed to lead to a wave of vacancies.

Throughout Australia, the pandemic caused a seismic shift in workplace cultures. This led to many large companies moving away from their traditional CBD office spaces, especially in Melbourne, to make way for a more flexible and modern way of working.

While state governments used a range of extra measures on top of federal stimulus packages, to support commercial real estate and its tenants throughout the pandemic, these measures are about to come to an end.

Last year was the year of the unknown, but there was a certain amount of protection that we gained from the government through these stimulus packages. Now that this is all coming to an end, it is assumed that this year will be a year of reckoning.

However, since December GDP figures were released, we saw an increase of 3.1 percent over the quarter, and an even larger increase throughout the September quarter, which was originally miscalculated. These numbers represent how quickly the Australian economy is actually moving with the previous two quarters becoming the fastest growth we have ever seen over two consecutive quarters.

Throughout the industrial and commercial real estate sectors, these figures are welcomed and celebrated as signs of perseverance through a tough time, but no matter the strength of the economy, changes within the sector are still inevitable.

It is expected that as stimulus measures ease, retail shops could end up in a similar position to many city offices, which are empty. With small businesses likely to face another tough year ahead, this could in turn trigger distressed selling in the commercial property market, which could send values plunging. This hasn’t occurred as of yet, and it is believed to have been avoided mainly due to stimulus measures.

Predictions for the commercial market short-term are sobering and those investors who are lucky enough to have kept their long-term leases signed or continuing, are likely to come out better on the other side. In fact, many are actually optimistic that commercial property will continue to move forward through this period and return to its former glory in no time.

You might be wondering why many feel so optimistic. Well, the Australian property market is deemed to remain viable long-term due to its overall strength and our low risk for any further pandemic mishaps financially due to our strong health care system. Since the market sits upon such a strong foundation, it has only been slightly damaged, not destroyed and it will eventually heal. It is a hopeful sign to still see displayed interest in the sector, despite the shift in finances that will be seen come the end of March.

Luckily for some investors, this scenario has created the perfect storm that has allowed them to jump on struggling commercial investments and purchase them from their previous owners, as they will, over-time, become a hugely profitable investment.

Mainly what commercial landlords are craving right now is the sense of stability in 2021, especially as stimulus measures end. However, just as every other sector throughout last year, some thrived and some didn’t, but we can have comfort in the fact that the predictions are, that while this year will be tough, it won’t be as tough as last year.

The strong foundation of the commercial sector means the market is appearing stronger than forecast in the lead up to the end of stimulus packages. So, despite a tough few months ahead, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Posted on

Infrastructure improvements leading the way for stronger industrial real estate in south-east suburbs

As Australia’s population continues to grow, it becomes necessary for the government to begin infrastructure growth and improvements to support the community’s needs. Rapid population growth and high population density across the east coast has underpinned the increase in land value throughout Australia’s largest capital cities; as land availability for industrial development becomes limited, and its uses restricted to other purposes if in proximity to the CBD.

Recently industrial property occupiers flocked to suburban Melbourne. Luckily for Melbourne’s industrial property market, a range of transport infrastructure improvements are under construction. Several of these infrastructure projects are currently in the works and are expected to have a significant impact on the way the Melbourne industrial market operates, re-shaping demand for industrial land.

The completion of these projects are also expected to support industrial development beyond traditional capital cities industry precincts, and into regional and suburban locations, that are in proximity to new road and rail transport infrastructure.

The Mordialloc bypass will connect the Mornington Peninsula freeway to the Dingley bypass and will help to alleviate delays and improve safety. Credit: urban.com.au

There is currently no doubt that the existing transport infrastructure investments are set to alter the outlook of the industrial market, not only for industrial operations but also for investors and developers currently revisiting their investment strategies. They will need to recognise the ever-changing market dynamics that are created by infrastructure improvements and investments.

For the industrial property industry, the latest instalment from the Victorian government of a $1 billion pipeline of road and rail projects for Melbourne’s south-east will have the largest impact. Motorists and public transport users in east and south-east Melbourne will benefit from an investment in congestion-busting infrastructure, that is set to ease traffic concerns for the rapidly growing region.

The most significant infrastructure improvements through this area, include the Monash freeway upgrade, where an extra 30kms of traffic lanes are being added to improve safety and congestion, the Thompsons Road duplication from Dandenong-Frankston Road to Berwick- Cranbourne Road and the Mordialloc bypass.

The new Mordialloc bypass will help to alleviate delays and improve safety in one of outer Melbourne’s fastest-growing areas. It will connect the Mornington Peninsula freeway to the Dingley bypass. The new arterial road that is set to be finished by late 2021, will improve access to the Dandenong South Employment and Innovation Cluster and industrial areas in Braeside and Moorabbin. Industrial property occupiers will therefore want to locate themselves as close as possible to the Mordialloc bypass. Occupiers are moving from Bayside locations to Braeside industrial market, due to flight to quality and to move closer to home.

 

 

The Braeside/Mordialloc precinct have been impacted by the Keysborough property market over the last 5 years, but now with the road network improving in this area, they are making a comeback. This comeback will be bolstered especially by the new Frasers land subdivision and speculative construction throughout the south-east suburbs. This will naturally build on an already strong industrial property market through the south suburbs.

The industrial market throughout Melbourne’s south-east will become more competitive as a result of the improvement in transport infrastructure, and occupiers flocking close to improved infrastructure.

However, the supply of industrial land throughout this south-east strip is diminishing fast, as occupiers are realising the pure value of the area. Which has led to increased prices of land and rentals and shrinking vacancy rates. The increasing strength in the market is also set to lead to a further increase in industrial property pricing, especially after an extraordinary year for Melbourne’s industrial property market in 2020.

Continued infrastructure projects and improvements from the Victorian government are only leading the way for a stronger industrial property market throughout Melbourne, during 2021 and beyond.

Posted on

What you need to look out for in the industrial property market for 2021

While 2020 was a year that none of us will forget anytime soon, the clock has now ticked over into 2021 and we are all excited for the new year ahead.

In 2020 the industrial property market prevailed through tough times and came out on top. The events of the year were ultimately beneficial to the industrial property sector, with e-commerce becoming more important than ever. Vacancy levels were extremely low, with strong leasing activity in prime assets driving vacancy levels down. Particularly in Melbourne, the industrial property market hit huge highs as e-commerce created record leasing demands. It was even noted that in the midst of the second wave of Melbourne lockdown restrictions that capital value of prime industrial property rose 6%, between the first and third quarter of 2020.

So, what is expected of the industrial property market throughout 2021?

What is expected to hit and miss this year?

For the commercial and industrial property markets in general we are expected to see a range of hits and misses this year.

2021 Hits

  • Industrial sector and industrial land.
  • Lifestyle region commercial spaces.
  • Suburban retail and suburban office spaces.
  • Brisbane, Adelaide, and Canberra to see huge performance due to strong yields and low vacancy rates.

2021 Misses

  • CBD Office Spaces – especially in Sydney and Melbourne.
  • CBD Retail.
  • International Hotels.

How the current trends are going to carry into 2021

Looking forward in the industrial retail sector, the first expectation of the year is that the increased volume of e-commerce activity will result in record industrial leasing demand for 2021. It is likely that the record year of leasing demand in 2020 will be seen across industrial property markets again this year, underpinned by the continued growth of e-commerce, which is driving up demand for warehouse space.

Supply chains will continue to evolve as needed for the changing demand and the need for fast local delivery of packages, will aid an increase in demand and growth for industrial facilities throughout 2021.

Investors look to re-weight and adapt their portfolios towards industrial sectors

Secondly, it is expected that investors will be focusing their energy more heavily on industrial investments, rather than retail or office spaces in 2021. In 2020 investors who were considering adapting their portfolios to favour industrial investments delayed purchases until there was some clarity on the timeline and stability of border restrictions. So now that 2021 is showing much more stability on this front, it is time for them to invest. A focus on income security and low residential yields, will push investors to look into the industrial sector for more ‘guaranteed’ returns this year. It is also likely that overseas buyers will increase their share of purchases as well. With huge pressure for industrial land availability, which will increase yields and growth, there will become a further need for multi-storey warehousing and industrial floor space.

Cities aren’t at the forefront anymore, and suburbs are the new hotspots

The pandemic seemingly threatened to upend the status quo of city-centricity. While this isn’t expected to completely obliterate industrial spaces within city hubs, the lack of industrial real-estate available within hubs will push industrial property out further into regional and suburban areas. The huge pressure for industrial land availability will move demand towards regional and suburban industrial facilities, and away from city centres. Increased infrastructure investment and dwindling land availability will mean that industrial land value in Melbourne’s sub region is anticipated to reach an all-time high during 2021.

While we cannot predict everything to come during 2021, it looks as though industrial property will continue to hold strong throughout the year. What do you think will happen within the industrial property sector this year?

Posted on

The value of quality property management services

Through a very difficult year our property management team have been a beacon of hope for our property management clients. They have worked extremely long hours 6-7 days a week dealing with all the challenging aspects brought upon the industry by the pandemic. They kept up with all of the new government legislation and regulations impacting real estate, and ensured it was implemented correctly for the owners.

As a property owner or investor, you might believe that it is just easier to manage all of your properties on your own. However, if something else gets in the way, and the management just gets away from you, it can impact the return on investment that you could receive from your investment. It is in your best interest to ensure that your investment provides returns, by having it managed properly.

Property Management is not just about collecting rent. It is a complex balance between maximising return on investment and ensuring that the property is managed correctly to realise the value of a property, at the same time.

 

 

This is why many opt to have their assets managed by the professionals instead. There are a range of benefits that you can receive from having an expert, handling your assets. Not only is it going to be an easier process for you as an investor, but you won’t have to collect rent, do lease admin or arrange repairs.

Just Commercial can offer a range of property management services that will make your life easier. With significant experience across a broad range of properties, such as shops, office, showrooms, factories and warehouses, they are the right choice no matter your property type.

Our incredible asset management team includes Aviva Basist (Senior Property Manager), Christine Bonnaci (Property Manager), Con Devistaki (Trust Accountant) and Jeanne’ Pickering (Property Manager) who thoroughly invest their time into proactive management, maintenance and ESM.

Property management is one of our key strengths. It is a large part of our business in which we afford a great deal of attention to both the landlord and the tenant, while staying abreast of the ever-changing legislation within the sector.

This is especially important right now as the Retail Leases Act (RLA) has been amended as from 1st October 2020 and obligations for landlords in particular have increased. Landlords are now required to provide information about the availability of an early market rent review to the tenant when notifying them of any option term, and the time frames around notification have also changed to shorter notice period. This is a great example of the increased responsibilities on landlords, and why it is beneficial to use our property management team instead.

 

 

A common issue we find when owners manage their own properties is that they are emotionally involved, and therefore they can let their relationship or closeness with their tenants cloud the landlord tenant relationship. This can result in landlords passing up Rental Review and Lease Options, which can over a long period lessen the returns on their investment.

Whereas when you use Just Commercial Property Management services, they can handle:

  • Rent Collection & Rental Reviews
  • Outgoing Recovery and Disbursement
  • Lease Administration
  • General Services Provided
  • Emergencies/Urgent Repairs
  • New Lettings & Vacating Tenants including Lease Negotiations
  • General – Miscellaneous Fees and Services

All of the benefits from having your asset or property managed by the experts at Just Commercial, outweighs the cons. We aim to maximise your earnings, while reducing expenses and ensuring timely rent collection and payments, as required. We go above and beyond to ensure your property is well managed so you can have greater peace of mind, and can enjoy all the benefits of your investment, without the management.

 

Posted on

The current changes impacting the commercial property industry in Victoria

Since the beginning of 2020 the commercial property sector has seen unparalleled changes to their operations, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. However, to get through this virus Victorians must work together and that partnership extends from tenants and landlords, and all the way to banks and the government.

In the beginning of March, the Victorian government implemented legislation and regulations, to assist landlords in navigating the current commercial property industry, and their tenants.

On August 20, the Victorian government announced further changes regarding the rules and regulations for commercial property, landlords and tenants; due to the challenges faced during Stage 4 restrictions.

Commercial and residential tenants and landlords will now be able to take advantage of more support, including further land tax reduction and more grant funding.

We have summarised the updated rules and regulations, and included relevant weblinks, so that you can understand the assistance available, and what changes are relevant to you:

Land tax reduction – The relief measures for land tax include a deferral of 2020 land tax until the 31st March 2021 for all landowners, who own at least one non-residential property and have total taxable landholding below $1million.

The discounts on land tax and deferrals of remaining land tax being offered to landlords, has now been increased to 50% for eligible commercial landlords who offer eligible tenants a 50% or more rent waiver for at least 3 months. Additionally, the Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund has been created in recognition of small, private landlords who may not have the capacity to provide rent reductions to their tenants under the requirements of the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme. The CTRS scheme was created to support commercial tenants whose income has been affected by the pandemic.

Eligible small business that own their own commercial premises will also now benefit from land tax relief. To find out more, head here: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/coronavirus#land-tax-reduction-increase

Landlord assistance – A fund of $60 million will be eligible to small commercial landlords, who have taxable land holdings less than $1million as at 31 December 2020. They will be able to apply for the “hardship scheme”, that can provide up to $3,000 per tenancy to small commercial landlords.

(Please note the fund is only open for eight weeks from August 21, 2020). To find out more, head here: https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/commercial-landlord-hardship-fund

Rent increases are not permitted for tenants receiving Rent Relief until after 31 December 2020. Tenant lockouts/evictions are not permitted in most circumstances until after the 31st of December 2020. To find out more, head here:  https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/pause-evictions-extended-and-extra-renter-protections

The Victorian Small Business Commission has also been granted increased powers to direct landlords to provide rent relief in proportion with the fall in turnover for eligible tenants. In addition, $600,000 has been allocated to fund advocacy groups to be a voice for vulnerable tenants. The government is also encouraging banks to continue working with their customers, both residential and commercial, who are struggling to pay their mortgage, as a result of the pandemic and corresponding restrictions.

Just Commercial continues to work hard every day to ensure that we continue to facilitate results simultaneously between our 500 + tenants and 200 landlords in this ever changing and challenging rent relief period.

Posted on

The broader impacts of coronavirus could present the perfect opportunity to review your current commercial real estate portfolio

Greater Melbourne has hit the halfway mark on Stage 4 pandemic restrictions. At the same time the State Government is seeking to extend its emergency powers, while remaining non-committal about whether the middle of September will see an easing of restrictions. There is increasing concern being expressed by the business community – from small businesses to large corporates – about the likely impacts on business viability into the future. However, some obvious trends are emerging that are of real interest to commercial property portfolio owners, particularly in the south-eastern suburbs.

The broad economic uncertainties, combined with more specific economic trends that are already emerging from the restrictions in place, are clearly having an impact on the commercial property sector – a quick glance at the Financial Review and industry publications gives a clear indication of the upheaval that is occurring.

However, as in so many other situations, adversity creates opportunity and this current situation may be just the right time for many investors to review their existing portfolios in order to capitalise on some emerging trends.

In this article we consider each of the core commercial property sectors – office, retail and industrial, with a view to providing investors with some pointers to the opportunities and risks that are emerging.

Offices

CBD fringe and outer suburban office space looks set to experience increased demand as employers look to relocate to reduce rent costs, improve employee amenity and get closer to more intensive economic activity such as manufacturing and logistics. This trend had been occurring even before the pandemic hit. However, the added pressures on CBD office spaces, where physical distancing is difficult to ensure and large-scale air-conditioning and ventilation systems may not be adequate for future needs, are likely to see this trend reinforced.

It may be that older and larger suburban office spaces also need to be updated to meet the surge in demand in new expectations with respect to the physical office environment – however, with an expected uptick in demand, this could well be an investment worth making in its own right.

Retail

Physical retail, particularly in shopping centres, has suffered significantly as a direct consequence of both lockdown periods. While the easing of lockdowns will bring some respite, the reality is that many businesses that previously relied on a physical retail presence will increasingly and, in some cases, exclusively move online.

However, with as with office real estate, changes in community behaviour mean that there is likely to be a greater trend towards shopping locally and this may see a medium-term increase in suburban retail opportunities as the economy begins to return to normal. In particular, with people continuing to maintain caution about close physical interactions and crowds, there is a real emerging opportunity with respect to suburban strip shopping areas, which have slowly been declining over recent years.

Industrial

Industrial real estate presents significant opportunity for investors – whether it’s rethinking existing industrial real estate and how it can be configured to suit the rapidly escalating demand for warehousing and logistics capacity and likely increases in local manufacturing, or looking at a new industrial investment, or capitalising on a maturing investment and selling into a currently strong market with high demand.

Current and prospective commercial real estate investors in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs are perfectly placed to benefit from the significant changes in the economy at the moment. If you are considering a review of your commercial property portfolio, it makes sense to discuss the opportunities with an expert at Just Commercial.