As we discussed while breaking down the costs involved with running London office space, there are several costs to consider aside from rent.
Service charges, usually expressed as a rate per square foot occupied (e.g.. £6.00 per sq ft per annum), are paid to landlords or managing agents for running multi let office buildings.
Common service charge items may include:
- Rubbish Collection
- CCTV
- Lightning Protection
- Pest Control
- Water Rates
- Electricity
- Cleaning Common Parts
- Lift Maintenance
- Telephones (Lift)
- Telephones (Security)
- Health and Safety
- Access Control Systems
- Air-conditioning
- Heating
- Security
- Fire Precautions
- General Maintenance
- Engineering Insurance
- Public Liability Insurance
- Building Management
An additional payment of £0.65 – £0.75 per ft² will be charged for Buildings Insurance.
The service charge elements will be slightly different, dependent upon the building – it depends exactly how they are run.
For more essential tips and advice, have a look at The Knowledge - and for answers to your questions about London office space, check out our FAQs.
Ian Kitchener
Ian has advised Central London office occupiers for over 20 years - fighting their corner and making sure they get a great office on the best terms. He has a diverse client following, often working with creative companies.
