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Three Simple Steps to Finding a London Office

FAQs

  1. How Long Does It Take To Find A London Office?
  2. Do London Offices Have Car Parking?
  3. Should I Rent Or Buy?
  4. What Are Service Charges?
  5. What Are Business Rates?
  6. What Do I Need To Know About Security And London Buildings?
  7. What Is DDA And Who Pays It?
  8. Is VAT Paid On Rent?
How Long Does It Take To Find A London Office?
Longer than you may think
2 weeks to inspect what’s available
1 week to agree terms
4 weeks with the solicitors
But any of these elements can take longer!
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Do London Offices Have Car Parking?
Car parking is a rarity in Central London
Insist on having car parking, and your choice of offices is limited
Any car parking is expensive
Say £3,000-£5,000 per annum plus rates, and then add the congestion charge!
But offices with car parking can be found
Most occupiers rely on the excellent communications in Central London
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Should I Rent Or Buy?
Most companies rent
Freeholds can be bought, but they are difficult to find.
Own a freehold, and you may be on 5 floors; this may not suit
Freeholds are a major capital commitment, however, buying a freehold can be a great investment.
More info: freehold versus leasehold
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What Are Service Charges?
With your own self contained building, you operate it and you pay the bills.
When you rent part of a building, you pay the landlord towards the running costs, i.e., heating, maintenance, commissionaire etc.
More info: Service Charge Guide
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What Are Business Rates?
They are a property tax charged to the occupier by the local authority
The cost can vary very widely; they can cost as much as £20 per sq ft a year
More info: Business Rates
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What Do I Need To Know About Security And London Buildings?
This can be very important to some companies
Not all buildings have a good level of security at all
Secure buildings tend to have higher service charges – you get what you pay for
Options are a commissionaire, video entry, CCTV, card entry systems
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What Is DDA And Who Pays It?
This is the Disability Discrimination Act
Buildings must comply
More info: DDA
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Is VAT Paid On Rent?
Generally yes
Most buildings are now VAT registered, so VAT is payable
Some VAT free buildings can be sourced for those groups that cannot reclaim VAT, e.g. banks etc...but it’s difficult
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