New data from Rubberdesk, first reported by Property Week, shows that availability of flex office space in the U.K. is up 32% year‑on‑year in the first quarter of 2025, pushing national stock past 8.6 million sq ft.
The sudden glut trimmed the median desk price by 1.2 % since Q4 to £500, although rates are still 2.2 % higher than a year ago.
Managed offices are driving the expansion. Supply in that segment has jumped 111% year‑on‑year, dwarfing the 6.1% quarterly rise in traditional serviced suites.
London still commands three‑quarters of all U.K. flex inventory, yet availability in the capital ballooned 39% year‑on‑year while pricing nudged up just 1.1% quarter‑to‑quarter.
Regional figures paint a mixed picture: Birmingham’s shrinking stock (down 21.2% year-on-year) sent desk costs soaring 23% over the year, whereas Manchester added 17.7% more space and saw a modest 5.3% price uptick.
The twin forces behind the boom are clear, says Rubberdesk’s Head of Growth and Analytics Tom Petryshen.
“Tenant demand for customised, private flexible solutions is strong, particularly from larger enterprises navigating economic uncertainty and hybrid work models,” he told Property Week. “Secondly, landlords are also actively contributing to this supply increase. Facing reduced demand for traditional 5–10-year leases, property owners are increasingly adopting managed solutions to meet evolving occupier needs and maintain occupancy.”
