Flexible Workspace Trends in Ireland 2026: What Businesses and Landlords Need to Know

Irish businesses still need professional places where employees can focus, meet clients and work together, but many no longer want to pay for empty desks, lengthy office fit-outs or more space than they use each week. Commercial landlords face a related problem. Occupiers increasingly want shorter commitments, ready-to-use offices, reliable technology and buildings that support modern working patterns.

These changes are increasing interest in flexible workspaces across Ireland. Coworking desks remain part of the market, but demand now includes serviced offices, managed team spaces, meeting rooms, satellite offices and regional work hubs. This guide explains the main flexible workspace trends in Ireland for 2026, what office space may cost and what businesses and property owners should consider before making a decision.

Ireland’s Flexible Workspace Market in 2026: Quick Answer

Flexible workspace in Ireland is developing into a wider commercial property category rather than remaining a service aimed mainly at freelancers and start-ups. Larger businesses are using private flexible offices for temporary projects, regional teams, new market entry and short-term expansion. At the same time, property owners are considering management agreements and revenue-sharing arrangements alongside standard commercial leases.

The Dublin market provides the clearest current evidence. CBRE reports that flexible offices account for 3.2% of Dublin’s office stock, up from 2.5%, while occupancy in prime flexible space is approximately 90%. The same research places London’s flexible-space share close to 12%, suggesting that Dublin may have room for further growth, although the cities differ greatly in size and business structure.

What Is Driving Flexible Workspace Demand in 2026?

Flexible workspace demand is being influenced by changes in employment, office attendance, company growth and property costs. Businesses are no longer choosing space only by calculating how many employees they have. They must also consider how often employees attend, which activities take place in the office and how quickly their space requirements may change.

Hybrid Working Has Changed Office Occupancy

Hybrid working has made office attendance less predictable. A company may have low attendance on Mondays and Fridays but require most of its desks, meeting rooms and collaboration areas in the middle of the week.

Ireland’s statutory right to request a remote working arrangement came into force on 6 March 2024. A government review published in March 2026 found that formal requests covered by the review were rarely refused, while also noting that access to remote work remains uneven between sectors and employer types. The legislation gives employees a right to request remote working rather than an automatic right to receive it.

Businesses Want to Reduce Fixed Property Risk

A traditional commercial lease can involve a long commitment, a rental deposit, fit-out work, furniture, utility contracts, insurance, commercial rates and ongoing maintenance. These costs may be reasonable for a stable long-term occupier, but they can create risk for a company with uncertain staffing requirements.

Flexibility can carry a higher cost per desk, particularly in premium buildings, but the business may avoid paying separately for several property services.

Eight Flexible Workspace Trends Shaping Ireland in 2026

Ireland’s flexible office sector is changing in both its physical design and its commercial structure. The strongest trends reflect demand for privacy, better workplace quality, more useful technology and property arrangements that divide income and risk differently between owners and operators.

1. Private and Managed Offices Are Expanding the Market

Early coworking growth was closely linked with shared desks and open community areas. In 2026, many occupiers still value shared facilities, but they also want private offices where their teams can work securely.

Private and managed offices provide:

Enclosed team areasControlled accessSpace for confidential workA consistent number of desksGreater branding optionsPrivate meeting facilitiesEasier team expansionLess fit-out responsibility

This format can appeal to established SMEs and corporate teams that want more privacy than coworking provides but do not want the full commitment of a traditional commercial lease.

2. Larger Companies Are Using Flexible Space

Flexible offices are no longer used only by freelancers and early-stage companies. Larger organisations may use them as one part of a wider property strategy.

Technology, life sciences, financial services and professional services businesses may have different security and fit-out requirements, but they share a need for space that can be occupied without a lengthy setup process.

3. Activity-Based Working Is Replacing Fixed-Desk Layouts

Activity-Based Working, often shortened to ABW, gives employees access to different settings for different tasks. Instead of placing every employee at the same type of desk, the office includes areas for focused work, meetings, calls and team discussion.

A large open-plan room does not automatically qualify as an activity-based workplace. Employees need genuine choices that allow them to move away from noise and interruption when their work requires concentration.

For flexible workspace operators, this trend means that total desk capacity is only one measure of quality. The balance between desks, meeting space, quiet areas and circulation can have a major effect on how well the office works.

4. Ergonomics and Wellbeing Are Becoming Core Standards

A ready-to-use office should provide more than a desk and internet connection. Employees may work in the space for several hours at a time, so seating, screen position, lighting and movement must be considered.

Employers retain workplace safety responsibilities when staff use coworking spaces, serviced offices or remote work hubs. The Health and Safety Authority states that a competent person must complete workstation risk assessments for employees who habitually use display screen equipment. Its remote working guidance also confirms that DSE principles apply in remote settings.

Workspace operators can provide suitable furniture and building conditions, but employers should still assess whether the space meets the needs of their employees.

5. Technology Is Managing Variable Attendance

Flexible offices rely on technology to control access, manage shared facilities and understand how the building is being used. This becomes more important when attendance changes from one day to the next.

Occupancy information can show whether particular rooms are heavily used, whether more quiet space is needed and which days create the greatest demand. However, businesses should also review privacy, data security and employee monitoring policies before using detailed workplace analytics.

6. Energy-Efficient Offices Are Becoming More Competitive

Heating, electricity and ventilation affect both operating costs and employee comfort. Businesses with internal sustainability targets may also prefer buildings that help them measure and reduce energy use.

From 24 May 2026, Ireland’s BER scale for domestic and non-domestic buildings uses simplified categories from A0 to G. SEAI states that the change makes energy ratings easier to understand and improves comparison with other European countries.

7. Landlord-Operator Partnerships Are Becoming More Common

A flexible workspace operator does not always rent a building under a standard fixed commercial lease. Some property owners and operators now use structures that connect payments to the performance of the workspace.

8. Regional and Commuter Locations Have Greater Value

Dublin remains Ireland’s largest flexible office market, but it does not represent every business requirement. Regional cities, county towns and commuter locations can serve employees and companies that need professional workspace without a daily journey into central Dublin.

Possible regional demand comes from:

Remote employeesLocal SMEsProfessional servicesCorporate satellite teamsStart-upsTraining providersProject teamsBusinesses opening in a new countyCompanies meeting regional customers

The availability of more than 400 coworking and enterprise hubs through the Connected Hubs network shows that flexible work is already supported across Ireland rather than being confined to Dublin.

Regional success still depends on local conditions. Strong broadband, parking, road access, public transport, nearby services and a sufficient business population are all important. A workspace should not be opened simply because a vacant office is available.

Current Flexible Office Price Benchmarks

Rubberdesk’s December 2025 availability data placed the median private office rate across Ireland at €554 per desk per month and the median coworking rate at €290 per desk per month. It also recorded 20,345 square metres of available flexible floor space and capacity for 4,069 desks.

These are availability and asking-price indicators rather than evidence of every completed agreement. Regional samples may also contain fewer properties, so national medians should not be used as a direct valuation for an office in Carlow, Kilkenny, Kildare or Laois. In Dublin, Rubberdesk reported a median private office rate of €600 per desk per month in December 2025. Rates varied by office size, with some large and premium spaces carrying much higher per-person costs.

Costs That May Not Be Included

Occupiers should ask for a complete written cost schedule before comparing providers.

Possible additional costs include:

VATRental bond or depositParkingPrintingMeeting-room useMail handlingStorageDedicated internetTelephone servicesAdditional furnitureSignage and brandingAfter-hours accessExtra cleaningEvent-space bookingEarly termination charges

The agreement should also explain whether the price can increase during renewal and whether unused meeting-room credits or desk days carry forward.

Calculating the Total Occupancy Cost

Flexible workspace should be compared with the full cost of a traditional office rather than base rent alone.

Flexible workspace calculation:

Monthly membership or licence fee + VAT + parking + additional services + recurring extras

Traditional office calculation:

Rent + commercial rates + service charges + insurance + utilities + fit-out + furniture + technology + cleaning + maintenance

A flexible office may have a higher monthly cost per desk but a lower setup cost. A conventional lease may become more cost-effective for a stable team that expects to remain in the same location for several years.

What the Trends Mean for Carlow and Nearby Counties

Carlow and surrounding counties should not be assessed as smaller versions of Dublin. Regional demand comes from a different mix of businesses, employees and property requirements. The strongest opportunity may be professional, practical office space with parking, reliable broadband and adjustable terms rather than large coworking centres based mainly on daily footfall.

A suitable regional property should make daily use easy. Broadband, accessibility, heating costs, natural light and parking may matter more to occupiers than a fashionable interior or premium city-centre address.

REA Sothern’s commercial property coverage includes Carlow, Kildare, Laois and Kilkenny, allowing national trends to be assessed against actual regional availability and occupier enquiries.

Flexible Workspace Outlook for the Rest of 2026

Flexible workspace is likely to remain an important part of Ireland’s office sector, but it will not replace every conventional commercial lease. Different businesses will continue using different property models based on their size, sector, security needs and expected occupation period.

The areas with stronger growth potential include:

• Private serviced offices
• Managed team space
• Corporate satellite offices
• High-quality regional hubs
• Temporary project offices
• Bookable meeting facilities
• Energy-efficient buildings
• Landlord-operator partnerships

The market also faces risks. Fit-out costs remain significant, customer commitments may be short and demand can vary sharply by location. Older buildings that cannot provide good energy performance, internet access or employee amenities may find it harder to compete for quality occupiers.

Dublin’s lower flexible-space penetration compared with London indicates possible room for further expansion, but growth should be based on Irish demand rather than direct assumptions from a much larger market.

How REA Sothern Can Help With Commercial Office Property

Flexible workspace trends affect more than workspace operators. They can also influence how a landlord markets an office, how a business compares available premises and whether a property owner decides to lease, improve or sell a building. REA Sothern provides commercial property services from Carlow and works across Carlow, Kildare, Laois and Kilkenny. Its commercial services include property sales, lettings support, market advice and free property valuations.

Considering leasing, selling or improving commercial office space?
REA Sothern can help assess current market conditions, promote available premises and connect property owners with suitable commercial occupiers in Carlow and surrounding counties.

Planning, workplace safety, building compliance, taxation and contractual matters should be reviewed by the relevant legal, engineering, surveying or tax professional.