Property agents CBRE have come up with statistics that show that leaseback deals are gaining in popularity across the European countries. Such types of deals have increased significantly in the current year, according to the agents.

One of most publicised and best leaseback deals was the one by HSBC with its Canary Wharf headquarters, which it sold to Korea’s National Pension Service. Leaseback deals are made when a company sells some of its property to investors and then leases back the same property as tenants.

The deal is a means to get some additional capital and is of immense benefit during times of economic slowdown. Apparently, many businesses have also realised the advantages of these office space rental deals, judging by the increase in number of leaseback deals being entered into now.

Such deals have gone up from 6% in 2004 to 17% in the first two quarters of 2009. These statistics, revealed by a recent CBRE report, show the growing popularity of the deal among businesses. The CBRE report also pointed out that the huge office space assets amounting to £2 trillion owned by European businesses also translate into probable business ventures.

The agents also reported an exponential growth in the number of such deals it has been asked to handle in a year, from 1.5 to 3b. Leasebacks are believed to affect commercial property markets in a significant way given that there is very little quality office space to choose from in the market, a fact which has already boosted rents here, even though a 45% decline has been seen in rents over three years otherwise.