Canberra building anchored by childcare centre listed with $6.5 million hopes: Savills

A two-storey commercial building in Canberra, with a 15-year lease to a national childcare provider, has been put on the market with price expectations of $6,500,000 through Savills.

The corner property at 22 Thynne Street is within the Fern Hill Technology Park in the Canberra suburb of Bruce. 

The ground floor is wholly tenanted by Guardian Early Learning Centre until 2029, while there are two new five-year leases to new tenants.

The first floor has been upgraded. The works included reconfiguration to three office tenancies and an upgraded common area for more than $850,000 over the past few years.

The property has an estimated net income of $464,495 pm (fully leased).

The listing agents are Andrew Stewart and LeeAnne Hobbs of Savills.

Stewart said childcare centres continue to maintain their status as one of Australia’s most sought after asset classes.

Recently, guest observer Michael Kark wrote that though the Early Childhood Development and Care industry has been an asset class with strong returns for many years, however, recently the new government childcare rebates, coupled with a number of other well-timed market changes, have seen this particular asset class truly become one to watch for investors.

In the past two years, the child care market has seen a rise in transactions and record yields driven by increased competition from national organisations looking to expand their portfolios, says Savills.

Added to that the suburban Canberra market has remained stable for small to medium commercial properties over the past 12 months with the majority of demand generated by owner-occupiers and small investment syndicates.

“Yields of 5.50% - 7.30% have been achieved consistently throughout 2016, with a Chatswood sale recording a yield of 3.90%,” Stewart said.

“We predict these sorts of properties will continue to attract strong results through the medium to long term nature of their leases and their statutory obligation to be fastidiously maintained” he said.

The property has a CZ5- Mixed use zoning and is for sale by expressions of interest concluding September 6.