Bengaluru & Hyderabad lead the pack; diversification into retail, warehouses, and even data centres on the horizon

If you have ever walked into a modern glass office building in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, or Mumbai, chances are that the space might be owned by a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Now, according to global property consultant Colliers India, REITs are set to play an even bigger role in the coming years.

Colliers’ latest report says that REIT penetration in India’s office market can rise from the current 16% to 25–30% by 2030. Put simply, nearly one in every three premium offices in India could be owned by REITs within the next five years.

What are REITs and why should you care?

Think of a REIT as a stock market-listed basket of properties. Instead of buying an entire office floor or mall, retail investors like you and me can invest small amounts in a REIT, and in return, earn steady rental income. For developers, it’s a way to unlock cash from buildings they already own, and for investors, it’s a chance to earn from real estate without actually buying property.

India’s big opportunity: 500 million sq. ft. of REIT-worthy offices

At present, India has about 133 million sq. ft. of office space listed under four REITs, mostly in top cities. But Colliers estimates that another 371 million sq. ft. of Grade A offices can potentially be brought under future REITs — that’s nearly half of all premium offices in the country.

Bengaluru leads the pack with 24% of this additional stock, followed by Hyderabad at 19%. A large chunk — nearly 60% of REITable offices — is concentrated in Secondary Business Districts (SBDs) of India’s top seven cities.

Beyond offices: retail malls, warehouses, and even hotels

REITs in India are no longer just about offices. The existing portfolios already include 5 million sq. ft. of retail malls and 11 million sq. ft. of warehouses and logistics parks. Experts believe that in the future, REITs could also include hotels, student housing, senior living, rental homes, and even data centres.

This is exactly how global REIT markets like Singapore, Japan, and the US grew into multi-billion-dollar sectors.

High demand, strong tenants, steady income

So far, India’s REIT-backed offices have maintained occupancy levels of over 86%, despite global headwinds. Tenants include a mix of tech firms, banks & financial services, consulting, and flexible workspaces. These long-term leases ensure regular income for REIT investors.

“Office REITs in India are at an early growth stage, but with rising demand from global companies and steady rental growth, their share can reach 25–30% by 2030,” said Badal Yagnik, CEO, Colliers India.

The bottom line

For the average Indian investor, this means more opportunities to invest in property without buying it outright. With better regulations, sustainability push (86% of office REITs are already green-certified), and diversification across sectors, REITs are expected to be a key part of India’s financial markets by the end of this decade.

Also Read: Women Homebuyers on the Rise: 1.29 Lakh Residential Transactions Recorded in 2024, Growing 14% Annually

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