The effects of covid-19 on performance of commercial real estate: A case study of real estate listed companies in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore and seek an understanding of the underlying factors leading to performance in the real estate sector remaining resilient in the midst of a global crisis when the global trend indicated negative growth in terms of rental income, collection and occupancy rate. The research adopted the phenomenologist and interpretivist research philosophy, and exploratory and descriptive research design, as such made use of a qualitative approach and a case study research strategy to get an in-depth understanding about the problem and therefore focused on real estate companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. The study established that during the COVID-19 outbreak the Zimbabwe commercial real estate sector registered a positive net effect in the retail, office, industrial and health sector in terms of rental income, collection and occupancy rate. Portfolio structure, demand and supply fundamentals, internal processes and systems, period of the lockdown, type of business, and category of the sector into essential and non-essential were among the factors that contributed to the resilient performance experienced in the commercial real estate sector. Portfolios that were diversified did not experience dire consequences as one asset class offset the exposure of another. The study puts forward the notion that the effects of crises can be uneven and vary from one sector to another and also from one country to another. These differential effects can in some instances result in a positive net effect on performance of economic sectors. The study recommends that government implement policies that would support sustained growth of the sector and assist the sectors that have been severely affected by the pandemic. These include tax deferrals to the sector during Level 5 lockdown and tax reliefs or holidays for adversely affected sectors such as the hotel industry.