Landlord representation – in German: Vermietungsmanagement – is the letting of retail space on behalf of the landlord. UNIQUE RETAIL manages the entire process for retail property in Germany, from the leasing strategy and approaching brands directly through to the signed lease and the handover of the unit. The work is based on our own location database, which records the tenant mix of 147 shopping streets building by building. We see which brand is still missing from which street.
We bring the right brands to your space.
Key facts
- For whom: institutional investors, asset managers, family offices and private landlords with retail space in city-centre locations.
- What: leasing strategy, positioning, approaching tenants, negotiation and support through to handover – for single properties and for portfolios.
- Where: prime locations in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt as well as other German city centres.
- How: our own tenant-mix data in the UNIQUE ADRS location database and direct contact with the brands’ expansion teams.
What sets us apart from pure brokerage
Retail property is our focus, not one segment among many. Rent levels, unit layouts and pedestrian flows on the shopping streets are our day-to-day work.
For every street we have mapped, our location database shows who is next door, who is represented in comparable locations and who is missing from your street. This is where the target tenant list comes from.
For prime locations we do not rely on listings. We approach the brands’ expansion managers directly, in Germany and abroad.
We also advise brands on their expansion. We know from our own work how brands assess locations, calculate and decide, and why deals fail in practice. For each unit we represent one side only.
How landlord representation works
- Analysis and leasing strategy. Location, unit and the surrounding tenant mix are assessed. Target rent, target sectors and unit layout are fixed before the space goes to market.
- Preparing the unit for the market. Layout, façade, building services, documents: everything tenants need for their assessment is in place before the first approach. The brochure links to a location page showing the current tenant mix of the street.
- Approaching target tenants. The database produces a list of suitable brands. We approach them directly and attend the viewings. You receive feedback and reasons for rejection in a regular report.
- Negotiating terms. What counts is the income over the lease term, not the rent in the first year. Term, stepped or indexed rent, rent-free periods and fit-out contributions belong in one calculation. Our article on effective rent versus headline rent explains this calculation.
- Lease and handover. We support the process through to signing and the handover of the unit. On request, we then monitor the lease terms across your portfolio.
When landlords appoint us
- A lease is expiring or the tenant has given notice.
- A unit is vacant and marketing has stalled.
- An acquisition or development is planned, and the leasing strategy is to be in place before the decision is made.
- The tenant mix no longer fits the location and the building is to be repositioned.
- Several properties in different cities are to be let through a single adviser.
Why timing matters
Vacancy costs more than the lost rent. Service charges otherwise paid by the tenant stay with the landlord, and a dark unit weakens its neighbours. Successful re-letting therefore starts 24 to 36 months before the lease ends, not when the tenant moves out. Our article on re-letting retail space describes the process.
Where demand comes from
A large share of the demand for German retail space comes from abroad. According to a major market survey, international retailers accounted for 67 per cent of the retail space let in Germany in the third quarter of 2026. Those who approach only domestic retailers miss a large part of the demand. Our analysis of international retail brands in Germany shows which brands are currently heading for the German market.
Locations at a glance
For these shopping streets in Germany, the tenant mix is recorded building by building. Streets with a coloured background have a detailed street profile.
In addition, the database covers shopping streets in ten other European cities, from London and Paris to Milan. All locations can be found in UNIQUE ADRS.
In an initial conversation we look at the location, the unit and potential target tenants.
Your contact: Philipp Junikiewicz
Frequently asked questions about landlord representation
What is landlord representation?
Landlord representation is the letting of retail space on behalf of the landlord, from the leasing strategy and the approach to tenants through to the signed lease and handover. The work starts before marketing: with positioning, target rent and a target tenant list.
How does landlord representation differ from pure brokerage?
Pure brokerage usually starts only when a unit is vacant and is limited to finding a tenant. Landlord representation starts earlier and goes further: lease expiries are tracked early, and target tenants and terms are defined before vacancy arises.
When should re-letting start?
Ideally 24 to 36 months before the lease ends. This leaves time to discuss an extension with the existing tenant or to find a successor before the unit stands empty.
Why an exclusive leasing mandate?
Because a unit’s first appearance on the market is the one that counts. One point of contact, one quoting rent and a coordinated approach prevent the same unit from being offered differently by several parties.
What is the difference between landlord representation and tenant representation?
In landlord representation, the adviser acts for the landlord in letting a property; in tenant representation, for the brand in its search for space. For brands, UNIQUE RETAIL offers retail expansion advisory.
Figures on the location database: UNIQUE ADRS, as of October 2026.