IT-labels in real estate

Not all real estate is equal when it comes to digital infrastructure. The way a building is leased and used determines who is responsible for IT quality and how an IT-label is awarded. The distinction between conventional (shell) real estate and turn-key concepts is fundamental. Both models have their own dynamics, risks and opportunities.

Conventional spaces: shared responsibility

In conventional or shell real estate, responsibilities for IT infrastructure are divided across two levels. At building level, the landlord is responsible. This encompasses the fibre connection, connection capacity, redundancy of connections, access for multiple telecom providers (carrier access) and the setup of technical rooms. This is the digital foundation, the backbone of the building.

At user level, the tenant takes over. Internal cabling, wifi networks, a possible server room, network equipment such as switches and firewalls, and smart applications for conferencing, access control or building automation fall under the tenant's responsibility. The tenant determines the level of ambition and invests accordingly.

For a high IT-label, both levels must perform well. A strong backbone combined with weak internal IT yields a limited result. The tenant may have access to a fast connection, but if the internal network is unreliable, the end user experiences the consequences daily. The reverse is equally true: a perfectly fitted internal network on top of a vulnerable backbone remains vulnerable. More about the methodology behind this assessment can be found on our website.

"A strong backbone with weak internal IT yields a limited result. Perfect internal IT on a vulnerable backbone remains vulnerable. Both must be up to standard."

The IT-label for conventional real estate therefore reflects the collaboration between landlord and tenant. Both parties must invest to reach a high quality level. For property owners, this means that investing only in the backbone is insufficient if tenants do not co-invest. And for tenants, their own IT efforts only pay off when the building infrastructure is up to standard.

Turn-key spaces and business centres: integral responsibility

In turn-key offices and business centres, full IT responsibility lies with the operator. The tenant rents a workspace or office unit including all digital provisions: internet, wifi, cabling, network management, security and often also print services and meeting facilities. The tenant does not need to concern themselves with the technical details.

The IT-label for turn-key real estate assesses the concept as a whole. Internet connection stability, redundancy during outages, capacity per user, security level, management quality and scalability for growth are all part of the assessment. The tenant has little to no influence on the underlying infrastructure and relies entirely on the quality delivered by the operator.

The IT-label for turn-key real estate therefore reflects the quality of the total concept. A high IT-label means the operator has organised their digital services at a professional level. A low IT-label points to risks in stability, capacity or security that directly affect all tenants in the building.

Comparison: conventional versus turn-key

The differences between both models can be summarised clearly. In conventional real estate, IT responsibility is shared between landlord and tenant. The tenant has significant influence on their own IT environment and invests considerably. The IT-label depends on the collaboration between both parties. If quality is low, this leads to vacancy risk and dissatisfied tenants.

In turn-key real estate, IT responsibility lies with the operator. The tenant has limited influence and a low personal investment in IT. The IT-label depends on the quality of the total concept. If that quality is low, it leads to reputational damage for the operator and possible tenant departure.

This distinction is relevant for everyone involved in real estate decisions. Investors, asset managers, landlords and tenants all benefit from understanding which model applies and what that means for the IT quality of the building. Visit our knowledge base for more background on the technical components that are assessed.

Why this distinction matters

Digital infrastructure is no longer a secondary concern in real estate. It increasingly determines the rentability of a building, the valuation, continuity options for tenants, ESG performance and the owner's risk management. A building without good digital infrastructure loses competitiveness, regardless of location or appearance.

The IT-label provides an objective framework to assess that digital quality, but interpretation differs by property type. For conventional real estate, the label says something about the collaboration between landlord and tenant. For turn-key real estate, the label says something about the quality of the concept as a whole.

"An IT-label is not a technical formality. It is a strategic quality indicator that directly influences the value and rentability of real estate."

For those who want to learn more about how the IT-label is awarded and what the criteria are: visit our page on methodology or contact us. We are happy to help you gain insight into the digital quality of your real estate.