Despite New York City based companies looking to suburbs for cheaper office space outside dense urban areas, leasing activity for Long Island office space experienced a slowdown in the second quarter.

Vacancies on Long Island increased in Nassau and Suffolk counties from the second to third quarters of 2020, according to a Colliers report. Nassau County experienced a 60 point change in vacancy to 8 percent, whereas Suffolk County showed an 80 percent change in vacancy to 9.3 percent. Overall, vacancy increased 80 points to 8.6 percent on Long Island.

Limited supply of office space and a car-dependent mode of transportation may have contributed to the increases in office vacancies. State government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic also mandated social distancing requirements, moving most tours and conferences online and further harming leases and sales in the area. Once office buildings re-open, new social distancing and hygiene protocols, as well as upgrades in air filtration systems, will need to be in place.