What Makes a Commercial Property “Investment-Grade”? Our 7-Point Checklist

In a crowded market, “good” is easy to find; investment-grade is not. At ABCAN we focus on durable income backed by sensible risk controls. Here’s the seven-point checklist we apply before progressing to full underwriting.

1) Location Quality (Macro → Micro)

  • City and sub-market momentum: employment base, transport, regeneration pipeline.

  • Micro factors: visibility, footfall/traffic counts, neighboring occupiers, noise and access.

2) Building Fundamentals

  • Functional floorplates, modern services, EPC/energy profile, compliance history.

  • Low obsolescence risk: can it adapt from single to multi-let, office to flexible workspace, etc.?

3) Tenant & Covenant Strength

  • Balance sheet health, trading history, sector outlook.

  • Concentration check: no single tenant >40–50% of income unless covenant is blue-chip.

4) Lease Profile & WAULT

  • Target WAULT aligned to strategy (stabilised vs. value-add).

  • Review break clauses, indexation mechanics, and repairing obligations.

5) Yield vs. Risk

  • Entry yield must compensate for vacancy/CapEx and rate environment.

  • Stress test exit cap rates; model downside scenarios, not just base case.

6) CapEx Roadmap

  • 5-year plan for compliance, ESG upgrades, and cosmetic refresh.

  • Prioritise works that improve rentability and operational efficiency.

7) ESG & Regulatory Readiness

  • Path to improved EPC/energy intensity.

  • Accessibility, life-safety, and local planning considerations.

The ABCAN screen in action

Only assets that score “pass” across all seven dimensions proceed to technical due-diligence. That discipline keeps our portfolio income-focused and resilient—for tenants, directors and investors alike.

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