The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Sept. 8, edition that power is shifting back to landlords in downtown Toronto as demand for office space rises. The Globe's Rachelle Younglai writes that landlords are cutting back on incentives like free rent and cash for build-outs that they previously offered to attract tenants to vacant offices. Dream Office REIT chief executive officer Michael Cooper says: "We are seeing tangible improvements. It's encouraging." Dream has 16 office buildings in the city's core. The situation has drastically changed since last year, when tenants had many options. The availability rate of downtown office buildings fell to 17.7 per cent in September, down from 20.4 per cent in the third quarter of last year, according to Altus Group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for new buildings like CIBC Square remained strong, while older towers like Scotia Plaza and Commerce Court faced higher vacancy rates. As major employers mandate staff to return, interest is surging again for financial sector buildings, including Scotia Plaza and the Toronto-Dominion Centre. Today, landlords do not have to offer rich incentives. Net effective rents are on the rise again.