FAQ.
Curious about how office space works, the costs associated with it, and if it’s right for you? Before committing to a space for your business, check out our most frequently asked questions about office space to help you decide what steps to take next.
WHAT IS FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE?
A flexible workspace is a furnished and fully equipped short-term workspace that resides within a managed building. Property providers generally include some communal areas used by all tenants within the building, such as reception areas, lounges, kitchens, break areas and bathrooms. Unlike conventional leased workspace, everything is included in the monthly cost. In the main business rates, taxes, utilities, facilities management, furnishings and basic IT connectivity are included, but it’s always worth checking the license agreement before you sign.
DO SERVICED OFFICES INCLUDE BUSINESS RATES?
Renting a serviced office usually includes business rates in the fixed monthly rent, along with utilities and other amenities. This allows tenants to enjoy predictable costs without having to pay business rates separately. However, terms can vary between providers, and some agreements may require tenants to pay business rates directly. To avoid any surprises, it’s important to review the lease terms or check with the provider to confirm whether business rates are included in the rental fee.
DO YOU HAVE 100% MARKET COVERAGE?
In a short answer, no! Any agent or office broker rarely covers 100% of the market due to how frequently new workspaces are opening, closing or changing hands. We pride ourselves on working with fewer operators who provide design-led workspaces. This helps to ensure we maintain a closer working relationship with our partners and a streamlined experience for you. Think ‘quality over quantity’; that’s our approach.
Unfortunately, not all companies (partners in this case) have the same working capital. Therefore, we wouldn’t be happy to recommend a company that we wouldn’t choose ourselves to ensure any deposit paid is held secure should you decide to leave at a later date.
HOW DOES YOUR SERVICE WORK?
Our aim is always to find a workspace that aligns with your long-term business goals as opposed to a short-term fix. We achieve this by listening to you and investing our time upfront to better understand your workspace requirements. Ultimately this saves you time taking time out of your day viewing buildings that don’t meet your brief. From the initial conversation, we organise your entire search, finding a workspace that meets your brief and arranging viewings around your diary, we even support you in subsequent negotiations. We pride ourselves on matching businesses with the right office space.
HOW DO I ARRANGE VIEWINGS?
To arrange a viewing simply fill in your contact details on our contact us page or fill in your details on the property listing page and one of our team will be in contact to arrange your viewing for you.
HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE?
Our search and consultancy services provide you with exceptional value—completely free of charge and without any obligation. We simply ask for 48 hours of exclusivity for property shortlisting. If we’re unable to find the perfect match within that time, you’re free to explore your options elsewhere. Should we succeed in identifying a property that fits your needs, and you decide to enter a licensing agreement with one of our esteemed property partners, we will be compensated with an industry-approved fee for our introduction. Your satisfaction is our priority!
ARE YOUR SEARCHES CONFIDENTIAL?
Yes. Our searches are confidential, meaning that you should not receive a deluge of automated sales calls or spam emails. Unlike other agencies, we will not disclose your details and ask that they contact you directly. All communication is screened so you can focus on your day-to-day activities.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM TERM?
Generally, the minimum license agreement is 12 months. Our property partners might offer slightly longer or shorter terms which can increase or decrease the rate payable, however, this is on a case-by-case basis. Initial pricing would be based on a 12-month term, yet the length of the term can be between 1-36 months.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE OUTGROW THE SPACE?
Many providers let tenants move to larger spaces during their agreement if available. For instance, if a company grows quickly, it can relocate without signing a new agreement, simply paying for the extra space used.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
Most serviced offices share amenities between tenants in shared communal spaces. Amenities can include meeting rooms, breakout areas, reception, catering, telephone answering and internet services.
ARE YOUR WORKSPACES PET-FRIENDLY?
With the recent rise of pet ownership, many coworking and flexible workspaces embrace the concept of ‘bring your dog to work day’. This tends to be more common with centres that offer ping pong tables and trendy fit-outs, so it’s worth mentioning this to our team so we can advise on which centres are pet-friendly.
HOW QUICKLY CAN WE MOVE IN?
Once you have agreed on the terms, signed the license agreement, and then paid any deposit the office is yours. It’s been known to start the agreement on the day of the viewing so that you can view and move in immediately!
HOW MUCH IS THE DEPOSIT WE NEED TO PAY?
The deposit can vary between service providers. Some allow tenants to move in without paying any deposit at all, and some will ask for one or two months’ rent to be paid in advance which would be held on account and refunded at the end of the license agreement.
ARE SERVICED OFFICES EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO LEASEHOLD OFFICES?
Unlike conventional leasehold spaces, where you need to build all the necessary amenities—such as restrooms, kitchens, meeting rooms, breakout areas, and IT services—you only pay for the physical desk space your team occupies. This typically ranges from 30 to 60 square feet per person.
In contrast, a conventional leasehold workspace usually requires around 80 to 100 square feet per person. While you still have access to these amenities, they are shared among other tenants in the building.
To find out more about the areas that Office Broker cover in London, check out our London Coworking Guide we look forward to helping you find your next coworking space.
*No cost of internet/maintenance. Shared amenities mean the reduced cost of furniture and equipment. No long-term contracts (365+). Networking opportunities & access to multiple start-ups and scaling businesses.