Key considerations for amenity investment

Effective amenity and service strategies present asset owners with a gateway to meaningful occupier engagement and sustained customer loyalty; almost one in five (Y)Our Space 2025 respondents put amenities and services at the top of their agenda in seeking to evolve their workplace.

But getting it wrong can have a negative - and costly - impact. Below, we highlight six areas that landlords and asset managers should avoid when considering their amenities strategy.

1. Overbuilding or misaligned amenities

Pitfall: Installing high-cost or trendy amenities that don't align with tenant needs or demographics.

Example: A luxury rooftop bar in a building which is aiming to be inclusive (not all occupiers want to drink!)

Avoid by: Conducting tenant research and usage analysis and aligning amenities with the building's market position and user profile.

2. Underutilisation of space

Pitfall: Creating amenity spaces that look good in a brochure but are rarely used in practice.

Example: A large gym or business centre that remains empty.

Avoid by: Designing flexible, multipurpose spaces and regularly reviewing amenity usage and adapting accordingly.

3. Poor maintenance and management

Pitfall: Amenities that degrade over time due to a lack of upkeep, leading to negative occupier perceptions.

Example: Outdated furniture, broken equipment, or untidy communal areas.

Avoid by: Budgeting for ongoing maintenance and operational staffing; and implementing a clear maintenance schedule and quality control.

4. Lack of integration with occupier experience

Pitfall: Amenities that are disconnected from the broader occupier experience or hard to access.

Example: Booking systems that are clunky or amenities in inconvenient locations.

Avoid by: Integrating amenities with digital occupier experience platforms; and ensuring accessibility, clear signage, and intuitive user interfaces.
 
5. Failure to measure ROI

Pitfall: Investing in amenities without clear metrics for success or impact on asset value.

Example: No tracking of how amenities affect rent premiums or tenant retention.

Avoid by: Clearly defining KPIs (e.g., occupancy, lease-up time, occupier satisfaction) and using data to refine or repurpose underperforming amenities.

6. Neglecting ESG and wellness trends

Pitfall: Ignoring the growing demand for sustainability, wellness, and community-centric amenities.

Example: Not including green spaces, bike storage, or energy-efficient features.

Avoid by: Staying current with sustainability trends and certifications, and prioritising wellness and environmental features as core, not optional.

(Y)Our Space 2025 found that meaningful, functional amenities were occupiers’ top priority when choosing a workspace, read more about this shift towards more purposeful design in our article Amenities: Balancing the flash with the functional. 

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