London Office Space FAQs

The most frequently asked questions about finding and acquiring London office space can be found here…

  1. What do I need to know before looking for office space in London?
  2. How do you find office space in Central London?
  3. What is Grade A office space?
  4. What is creative office space?
  5. How much does it cost to rent a serviced office in central London?
  6. How much does it cost to rent a conventionally leased office in central London?
  7. How much office space do I need?
  8. How do office rental costs vary across London?
  9. What is a Serviced Office?
  10. What type of companies use Serviced Offices?
  11. What is a Workstation?
  12. What services are provided in a Serviced Office?
  13. What is included in the rental price of a Serviced Office?
  14. Are there any additional costs when renting a Serviced Office?
  15. How are license fees calculated for Serviced Offices?
  16. How long are serviced office lease contracts?
  17. Apart from rent, what other conventional office costs to I need to be aware of, and are they negotiable?
  18. What do I need to know about business rates?
  19. Is there an option to have a permanent space with flexible leases which are not serviced office spaces?
  1. What do I need to know before looking for office space in London?

    There are 5 questions you should ask yourself before you start a search for office space: Where do your new offices need to be? How much do you want to spend? How much do you need, and what type of office space do you need? How much control do you need over your office space? When do you need to move into your new offices?

    Back to top
  2. How do you find office space in Central London?

    London is a vast office market. The best way to identify suitable offices is to use our office search engine!

    We ask new clients 3 fundamental questions to get the ball rolling:

    1. Where in central London do you want to be?
    2. What is your headcount – how many people do you employ?
    3. Do you want short term flex space, or would you prefer to find longer term options?

    Based on the options you select, we can swiftly help you build a shortlist of office space that meets your company’s needs.

    Tools & Resources

    Find a London Office Search Engine

    Back to top
  3. What is Grade A office space?

    Grade A office space is office accommodation built to the highest specification. The specification will include:

    • Good natural light
    • Modern air conditioning
    • Raised access floors for distribution of telecoms / data cabling
    • Quality ground floor reception, WCs and common parts
    • Passenger lift serving all floors
    • Full disability access

    Not a prerequisite, but many Grade A office buildings will try to provide desirable tenants facilities such as showers, gym, outside space and cycle parking.

    Back to top
  4. What is creative office space?

    “Creative” is a very subjective word, but its safe to say that a “creative office space” will have tend to have at least some of the following characteristics:

    • Good floor to ceiling height
    • Lots of natural light
    • Exposed wall and floor surfaces
    • Exposed air conditioning
    • Absence of suspended ceiling tiles
    • Absence of “sameness”. Creative office space will often be quirky.
    Tools & Resources
    Back to top
  5. How much does it cost to rent a serviced office in central London?

    Serviced offices are rented out on the basis of a desk per month. Rent is inclusive of all basic costs e.g. rent, business rates, service charge, cleaning and electricity. Naturally, costs will vary depending on the location and quality of the office.

    For example the cost of renting a quality 10 person serviced office in Mayfair may be upwards of say £8,500 per calendar month (£850.00 per desk per month). While the cost of renting a 10 person serviced office in Waterloo may be around £5,500 per calendar month (£550.00 per desk per month)

    Tools & Resources
    Back to top
  6. How much does it cost to rent a conventionally leased office in central London?

    London office costs for conventionally leased space includes rent, business rates and service charges. These costs are quoted per square foot occupied, per year. Costs are highly variable depending on which part of London you are looking at.

    For example, the overall occupational cost for renting a good quality 1000 ft2 office in Mayfair to accommodate 8-10 people may be around £138,000 per year (£138.00 per ft2).

    However, the cost for renting the same size office in Canary Wharf may only be £69,000 per year (£69.00 per ft2)

    Tools & Resources
    Back to top
  7. How much office space do I need?

    First you need to decide if you’re looking for serviced offices, or longer term leased office space.

    How Much Serviced office space do I need?

    Just count the number of desks you require  and the office provider will do the rest. In simple terms,  if you need to accommodate 10 people, you need 10 desks!  When you look at a 10 person office, If you feel the need for more space (e.g. a private meeting room within your office) you can increase your requirement to perhaps a 12 person office.

    What size leased office space do I need?

    The size of longer term leased offices is defined in physical terms, measured in square feet.  A company’s size requirement can obviously be a little more subjective, like a family’s requirement for the size of their house!

    Having said this, we are finding many companies are presently occupying approximately 80ft2 per person. So if you have 20 staff, you may well be after a 1600ft2 office.

    To finesse your size requirement you will need to consider occupational preferences e.g.

    • Do you work predominantly in open plan?
    • How many private offices / meeting rooms do you need?
    • Do you require large kitchen / break out / collaborative spaces?
    Tools & Resources
    Back to top
  8. How do office rental costs vary across London?

    Rental Costs vary tremendously across London. The most expensive office space can be found in the West End – Mayfair and St.James’s. And the cheapest per square foot is currently Clerkenwell and the City Fringes in East London (although this may change, given the regeneration project surrounding the 2012 Olympics, and government-backed initiatives like Tech City, which has seen an explosion of new start-ups in the area) – We have a comprehensive rental guide detailing costs for the major London commercial districts.

    Back to top
  9. What is a Serviced Office?

    This is a common question, as serviced offices in London are also referred to as managed offices, business centres or executive centres. Each is defined as an office suite or office building that is fully equipped and managed by a facility management company. Serviced offices offer short-term, flexible contracts, which allow tenants to expand, contract, or relocate at short notice. In simple terms, serviced offices are a cost-effective total solution to your business space needs.

    Back to top
  10. What type of companies use Serviced Offices?

    Serviced offices are used by a vast range of businesses in different industry sectors, from single person companies, to well-established, large corporations. Some of the most common businesses that rent serviced office space in London include start-ups, SMEs, and companies needing temporary or highly flexible space.

    Back to top
  11. What is a Workstation?

    Commonly known as a desk, a workstation is the amount of space typically allocated to one person/tenant/employee. Usually, a single workstation will include a desk, chair and telephone, with the option to include further facilities to suit specific requirements.

    Back to top
  12. What services are provided in a Serviced Office?

    Serviced offices provide companies with a professional business address, in a city or district location around the world. Tenants have instant access to their office space, which usually comes fully furnished, and fully equipped. 24 hour access and security is provided, with the option to hire meeting and conference rooms on a pay-as-you-go basis.

    Back to top
  13. What is included in the rental price of a Serviced Office?

    In most cases, the rental price per month is inclusive of rent, business rates, service charge, electricity, heating and air conditioning. Also included is furniture, telephone systems and shared use of WC and kitchen facilities.

    Back to top
  14. Are there any additional costs when renting a Serviced Office?

    There are additional facilities that tenants can have access to at a pay-as-you-go rate. These include meeting and conference rooms, along with extra charges incurred for faxing, printing, photocopying and telephone bills. However, some brokers and operators offer different packages that may include these facilities within the price per month.

    Back to top
  15. How are license fees calculated for Serviced Offices?

    Most service office providers in London charge on a per desk (or workstation) per month basis. Typically, workstations occupy 50 – 85  ft2 of space.

    Back to top
  16. How long are serviced office lease contracts?

    Serviced offices offer highly flexible lease terms, ranging from one month, to one year – each can be easily extended or contracted if the tenant requires. Alternatively, licenses can work on an easy in, easy out basis, meaning serviced offices take tenants on a month to month agreement. There are even some centres that allow office space to be rented for 24hours.

    Back to top
  17. Apart from rent, what other conventional office costs to I need to be aware of, and are they negotiable?

    The cost of renting conventional office space in London includes the following:

    • Rent
    • Business Rates
    • Service Charge
    • Buildings Insurance
    • Office fit Out
    • Furniture
    • Dilapidations
    • Rent Deposit
    • Solicitor and Other Professional Fees
    • Telecoms
    • Removals

    All costs are negotiable (except business rates, and even they can be challenged through an appeal process).

    Back to top
  18. What do I need to know about business rates?

    Business rates are a tax on business occupiers fixed by the Government (HM Revenue & Customs) and collected by the Local Authority. With serviced offices, rates are usually included as part of the rent. With conventional office space, it’s a separate payment. However rateable value is reviewed every 5 years, and can be challenged through an appeal process. Rating advisors normally charge on success, so if there is no saving there will be NO FEE! More about business rates here…

    Back to top
  19. Is there an option to have a permanent space with flexible leases which are not serviced office spaces?

    Unfortunately this is very rare indeed. It can happen when the buildings are old and likely to be redeveloped, and the landlord wants the space let in the meantime. However this is unusual. Ideally, a landlord wants office space let for the long term, in order to keep the investment value up. If tenants come and go every 5 minutes, this makes a lot of work for the landlord. Serviced office providers will set up the office space, furnish it and then charge the tenant for the privilege. Permanent space has to be fitted out to suit the occupier – for the occupier to spend that sort of money and then leave after a year would send any accountant into a tailspin!

    Back to top

Completed Deals

Acquired 6 person office in Baker St for leading tech company

40 desk office in Aldgate acquired for a tech company

5 desk office in Clerkenwell acquired for an energy company.