WeWork’s Learning To Share, Reports $1.5 Billion In Rent Savings

WeWork continues to press onward through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, recently reporting that it has amended more than 60 leases, saving the company at least $1.5 billion in future rent payments.  

The struggling coworking giant shared in an announcement published this week that its strategic and recent restructuring decisions included a more comprehensive reevaluation and renegotiation of its real estate portfolio across key markets — including Washington D.C., Atlanta, and Portland, Ore. 

WeWork boasts that its latest deals are a departure from its traditionally accepted long-term lease commitments, stressing the company’s move towards a more flexible and economically sustainable model. 

According to a report published by BisNow, central to this strategy is WeWork’s adoption of a revenue-sharing model with its landlord at 830 NE Holladay St. in Portland, Ore. This model represents a shift from WeWork’s usual fixed lease obligations, which the company explains reduces WeWork’s exposure to lease-related financial risks.  

This new approach to leases has also been mirrored in WeWork’s renegotiations within the Atlanta and Washington D.C. markets — where the company says it has successfully downsized space and rent at Washington D.C.’s Midtown Center and shortened the lease term at 831 Peachtree in Atlanta. 

Despite the backdrop of financial adversities, including bankruptcy restructuring and contentious legal disputes over unpaid rent involving 27 landlords, WeWork’s assertive renegotiation tactics are reported by the company to have produced substantial rent savings. The strategic maneuvering not only reflects WeWork’s battle to survive, but also reflects a broader coworking industry pivot towards more flexible leasing models. Major lease negotiations from WeWork and other providers are redefining landlord-tenant relationships, not just the coworking sector, but in commercial real estate. 

Moreover, the company’s legal challenges from landlords over unpaid rent are also taking a 180-degree turn, with demands for rent payments being withdrawn in some cases. According to a report published by The Real Deal, owners of two properties, including Dallas-Fort Worth and Irving, have withdrawn their motions demanding rent payment. This development highlights a growing recognition of WeWork’s financial challenges and a willingness among some landlords to engage in more collaborative lease renegotiations.  

While the new strategy has amended major leases in WeWork’s portfolio, the company also has expressed the critical need for additional funding. This has turned the eyes of industry insiders — some like Rentberry, and even ousted co-founder Adam Neumann, have publicly expressed an interest in making a potential bid for the company.