10 tips for picking the right office lease

When the pandemic is over will you be returning to the office? Do you need to renew the office lease or find new premises?

Flexi-working is here to stay but so is the office. The difference? Companies are looking for high-quality spaces that provide room for collaboration and creativity. It turns out you might need an office upgrade.

If your company is looking for a new office or office lease (either bigger, smaller, fancier or funkier)…don’t spend hours on google searching until you have read this article.

We have listed the 10 tips for picking the right office lease – and the most important things to consider when looking for choosing a new office. 

The (Office) Game Plan_

Looking through property listings is the easy part. The hard part is finding an office lease that ticks all the boxes…budget, location, amenities, bike rack, foosball table, beer tap…

Before you fall into a google hole of working out sq. ft vs prices, have a quick read of the 10 tips for picking the right office lease so you can collect the offices keys a lot faster:

1. Consider the length of the lease – including expansion and sub-leasing clauses. Does it offer space for your company to grow?
2. Understand which repairs the landlord is responsible for and what happens if they’re not completed promptly.
3. Think about your dream office floorpan so you don’t waste time looking at space that won’t work from the start.
4. Life post-pandemic will see us use the office differently. Make sure there’s enough room for informal meetings and breakout areas.
5. Understand the different types of office leases available. Do you want flexible space or long-term?
6. Familiarise yourself with the standard leasing terms or find a Property Manager to help with these if you are not sure
7. Talk to your employees and business partners to understand the ideal building and which amenities are a ‘must-have’
8. Has the landlord considered occupant wellness or sustainability? Don’t sign a lease that causes a long-term headache.
9. Don’t wait until the last minute to look for office space; with so many companies evaluating their needs, quality offices are being snapped up. You don’t want to end up in a broom cupboard.
10. Find a Property Manager who understands your needs and can help you find the office that ticks all your boxes.