Office rental costs to rise

THE cost of renting an office in the Capital could start to rise early next year, property experts forecast today.

A new report by property firm DTZ said average rents for prime offices in the city centre remained at 27.50 per square foot in the third quarter of this year and are expected to stay the same through the rest of this year.

However, the firm predicts that a shortage of grade A space will become "more of an issue" next year, which could lead to a rise in headline rents.

Mark Jones, director of the Edinburgh office of DTZ, said: "With no new developments completing until quarter four 2012, Grade A shortages will become evident."