PARIS-A majority of large French companies are dissatisfied withthe buildings they occupy, suggesting that France's real estatestock is poorly adapted to users' needs, according to a survey byBNP Paribas Real Estate and France's Essec Business School.

Some 73% of 119 firms surveyed said their property situation isless than optimal. "The main factors behind the general feeling ofdissatisfaction were obsolescence and unsuitability, which for BNPraises the question of how well the real estate stock is adapted tousers' expectations," a company official said. The annual surveywas carried out in first quarter 2010.

Users complained most about the size of office space, rentlevels and the technical performance of buildings. Some 64% ofrespondents are contemplating a move in 2010, up from 58% a yearearlier, mainly to cut expenditures or rationalize occupiedpremises. The proportion of firms saying their rents are abovemarket increased to 31% from 23% last year, while 54% said they hadrenegotiated rents in 2009.