Ta’ Xbiex seafront office for a growing marketing agency

The office search in detail

This real case study shows how a Dutch marketing agency in Malta relocated from a tightly packed 100 sqm office in Ibragg to a 150 sqm seafront office in Ta' Xbiex — with sea views, three meeting rooms, and a spacious kitchen.

OfficeSpace.Rent identified two ideal spaces from a shortlist of ten, arranged viewings within the same day, guided two competitive offers — both of which were accepted — and completed the signed lease within one week .

The total process from first call to signed agreement took two weeks . This case study explains why office relocation in Malta moves faster when the search is structured, the brief is clear, and the agent knows the market deeply enough to act on opportunity the same afternoon it appears.

Office relocation in Malta does not have to take months. When a business knows what it needs, works with an agent who knows the market, and stays decisive — the right office can be found, offered on, and signed within days.

This case study follows a Dutch marketing agency with a team of 10 to 12 people through a complete office relocation in Malta . They outgrew their 100 sqm office in Ibragg. They needed more space, a better layout, and — as it turned out — a view. Within two weeks they signed a lease on a seafront office in Ta' Xbiex . Furthermore, they had to choose between two accepted offers — a position most tenants never find themselves in.

What Problem Did This Marketing Agency Face?

The client was a Dutch marketing agency operating in Malta with a growing team of 10 to 12 people, including a dedicated R&D department. They had been working from a 100 sqm open-plan office in Ibragg — a space that had served them well in earlier days but had become noticeably cramped as the team grew.

The existing setup told the story clearly. Twelve desks filled the open plan. Two meeting rooms provided limited privacy for client calls and internal workshops. One bathroom and a small kitchenette served the entire team. The space functioned, but it no longer fitted.

They contacted officespace.rent with a defined brief: 150 to 250 sqm, a comfortable layout for their team, meeting rooms, a proper kitchen, and a location that worked for commuting staff. They also provided a map marking their preferred locations across Malta — a detail that sharpened the search immediately and saved significant time.

How Was the Office Search Structured?

Following an initial phone call to understand the team's requirements, size expectations, budget, and timeline, a shortlist of ten properties was compiled. Each option matched the brief on size, layout, and location. The client reviewed the full list and selected one property to visit — the modern office in Swatar .

The viewing was arranged. However, the story did not end there.

Immediately after that remark, a second property came to mind: the seafront office in Ta' Xbiex — a 150 sqm space on the second floor of a well-positioned building, directly facing the seafront. Moreover, there was an added urgency. Another tenant had submitted a competing offer on that space — approximately €400 per month lower than asking rate, with only a one-year commitment attached.

The landlord had not yet responded. The window was open — but it would not stay open long. The client was shown photographs from the listing on the website. He asked immediately whether he could visit that afternoon. The key was arranged. The viewing was confirmed.

What Were the Two Properties and How Did They Compare?

By the end of that day, the client had visited two very different offices. Both were strong contenders. Both suited the brief. But they offered distinctly different versions of what the agency's next chapter could look like.

Both properties genuinely suited the brief. Swatar delivered on every practical requirement — the right size, a yard, five parking spaces, and a layout that worked. Ta' Xbiex delivered all of that plus something harder to quantify: a seafront address, sea views from the second floor, and the kind of working environment that a creative agency can build a culture around.

How Were Two Competing Offers Managed and Why Did Both Get Accepted?

The client visited both properties and decided to put in offers on both simultaneously. This is an unusual position. It requires confidence from the client and careful management from the agent. Both offers had to be genuine, realistic, and structured in a way that gave each landlord a clear reason to accept.

The Ta' Xbiex offer required particular attention. The competing interest was still live. That tenant had offered approximately €400 per month less than the asking rate and proposed only a one-year lease commitment. From the landlord's perspective, that offer created significant risk — low income certainty, a short commitment, and the prospect of re-letting the space within twelve months.

We guided the client to structure their Ta' Xbiex offer around the landlord's actual priorities. The offer reflected a 5-year lease with a 2-year di fermo — meaning the landlord was guaranteed two years of income with no exit risk, and the full five-year term provided long-term stability. The rental rate was competitive and fair. Consequently, the landlord's choice was straightforward. A higher rate, a longer commitment, and a professional tenant with a stable business — against a lower offer with a one-year horizon.

Both offers were accepted. Therefore, the client faced a decision rather than a disappointment.

What Was the Final Result of This Office Relocation in Malta?

The marketing agency relocated from a 100 sqm open-plan office in Ibragg — tightly packed, with limited meeting space and a single bathroom — to a 150 sqm seafront office in Ta' Xbiex with direct sea views, three dedicated meeting rooms, a spacious kitchen, and two bathrooms.

The move resolved every pain point the team had been living with. Furthermore, it gave them something they had not specifically asked for at the start — a working environment that actively supports the creative culture of a marketing and R&D team.

Relocated from 100 sqm (12 desks, cramped) to 150 sqm seafront office in Ta' Xbiex

Open plan + 3 dedicated meeting rooms — versus 2 small meeting rooms previously

Spacious kitchen and 2 bathrooms — versus 1 kitchenette and 1 bathroom previously

Direct seafront views from second floor — brand new benefit not in the original brief

Prestigious Ta' Xbiex address — embassy district, marina proximity, strong business profile

Two offers made simultaneously — both accepted by respective landlords

Competing Ta' Xbiex offer defeated — higher rate and longer commitment won the space

5-year lease with 2-year di fermo — long-term stability secured on fair terms

Total timeline: 2 weeks from first call to signed lease

What Is a Di Fermo Clause and Why Did It Win This Deal?

The di fermo clause is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — elements of a Malta office lease. It is the commitment period during which neither party can exit the agreement without penalty.

In this transaction, the client agreed a 5-year lease with a 2-year di fermo . The competing offer on Ta' Xbiex proposed only a 1-year total commitment. That difference is enormous from a landlord's perspective.

A longer di fermo is not just a legal formality. It is a negotiating tool. Tenants who offer income certainty to landlords consistently secure better spaces — and often better overall terms — than those who prioritise short commitments. Therefore, understanding how di fermo works, and using it strategically, is one of the clearest ways an experienced agent adds value in a Malta office negotiation. [2]

What Can Growing Businesses Learn About Office Relocation in Malta?

This case study confirms several principles that apply to any business planning an office move or expansion in Malta.

Define your brief precisely before you start. Team size, size range, preferred locations, budget, and timeline — the more specific these are from the first call, the faster the right shortlist emerges. The client's location map was a particularly effective tool.

Listen to what you actually want, not just what you asked for. The client did not include sea views in their brief. A single offhand comment during a conversation unlocked the best possible outcome. A good agent listens for those signals.

Move quickly on opportunity. The Ta' Xbiex space had a competing offer. Acting on the same day — arranging the key, confirming the visit, and making a guided offer — is what secured it. Hesitation would have cost them the space.

Offer on multiple spaces simultaneously when both are right. Making two simultaneous offers gave the client control of the outcome. They were never in the position of having lost their second choice while waiting on their first.

Di fermo is a tool, not a threat. A 2-year di fermo on a 5-year lease won a competitive situation against a lower-priced competing bid. Understanding how to structure an offer around the landlord's priorities is what a qualified agent brings.

Office relocation in Malta can be fast. Two weeks from first call to signed lease is achievable when the brief is clear, the agent knows the market, and the client is decisive.