If Office Space were a dating app, a lot of landlords would be ghosted.

You know the type: decent headline, some filtered photos from 2014, promises of ‘vibrant community’ and ‘creative energy’; but when you turn up in person, it’s bad lighting, weird smells, and a carpet that last saw action during the Olympics (the 2012 ones).

It’s no wonder tenants are swiping left.

We’re in a market where people are judging your space faster than ever. Attention spans are brutal. You’ve got 30 seconds, maybe less, to make a first impression. And if your building still leads with “newly refurbished toilets” as a selling point, you’re losing the game before it even starts.

Today’s occupiers are pickier, and smarter. They’ve been burned by spaces that looked great on paper but didn’t deliver in practice. They want authenticity, functionality, and a bit of spark. Just like dating, really.

Take The Hickman in E1. Smart tech, top ESG creds, and a look that actually matches the lifestyle of the people who work there. Or Le Bureau in Battersea Power Station; industrial bones, polished design, roof terrace, wellness focus. Swipe right? 100%.

Then there are the red flags. Too much grey. No natural light. Lobby that screams “budget WeWork knock-off.” Or worse – no soul at all. Like going on a date where they talk about themselves for an hour and still forget your name.

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to be everyone’s type. But you do need to know who you’re for, and go all-in on that.

If you’re marketing a building to creative firms, then show up with bold design, raw materials, breakout space that doesn’t feel like a sad school canteen. If you’re aiming for finance, fine, go polished. But not boring. Luxury doesn’t mean lifeless.

Same goes for fit-outs. That generic Cat A+ might look “safe,” but does it really turn heads? Or is it just another forgettable profile in a sea of average?

We’ve walked clients into buildings that tick every box on paper, but within two minutes they’ve checked out. It’s a vibe thing. The space has to feel good. It has to connect.

If it doesn’t? Left swipe. Next.

And let’s not pretend location alone will save you. Yes, Shoreditch sells. Soho sells. Clerkenwell sells. But only if the space inside lives up to the postcode. Otherwise, you’re just paying Zone 1 rent for a Zone 4 experience.

So here’s the question every landlord and agent should ask before launching a space: if this building were a profile, would someone swipe right?

Not just because it’s “fine.” Not because it’s “affordable.” But because it stands out. It feels like them. It gets them excited to show it off.

Because in a world where people are committing to offices like relationships—short leases, break clauses, co-working flings—the only way to land the right match is to be genuinely swipe-worthy.

Fluorescent lighting and MDF desks aren’t getting any matches in 2025.