When choosing an office space, the decision isn’t just about size—it’s about your company’s growth, flexibility, and long-term vision. Traditional office spaces offer stability, branding opportunities, and complete control over your work environment, making them ideal for businesses that prioritize structure and a strong company identity.



But are they the right fit for you? In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about traditional <a href="https://hubblehq.com/en-us">office spaces</a>, from their key benefits and potential drawbacks to cost considerations and lease agreements. Whether you’re a startup looking for a permanent home or an established company weighing up your options, this article will help you make an informed decision.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="#trad-office">What is a &#8216;traditional&#8217; office?</a></li>



<li><a href="#trad-right">Is a traditional office right for my business?</a></li>



<li><a href="#included-trad">What’s included in a traditional office?</a></li>



<li><a href="#trad-cost">How much does a traditional office cost?</a></li>



<li><a href="#find-trad">Where can I find traditional office space?</a></li>
</ul>



<h2 id="trad-office" class="wp-block-heading">What is a &#8216;traditional&#8217; office?</h2>



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By traditional, we don’t necessarily mean traditional in terms of design–all oak panelling and leather inlaid desks. We mean traditional in the way you rent your office, and traditional in terms of the way you work.



<h2 id="trad-right" class="wp-block-heading">Is a traditional office right for my business?</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A traditional way to rent</h3>



Once, if you didn’t want to buy, virtually the only arrangement available for securing office space for your business was through a lease. It’s still a wise option for many businesses, but it’s far from the only option.



So, which types of business are most suited to a traditional office lease?



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Established businesses: A business that is well-established and has a clear understanding of its needs is unlikely to be surprised by sudden growth or contraction. As a result, flexibility of office space and the desire to avoid being tied to long term agreements may be less important than security and certainty (of location and contract). That makes a lease a better bet.</li>



<li>Businesses that don’t plan on another move soon:&nbsp;As a general rule of thumb, a serviced office will be a good option if you’re planning on staying in your new premises for no longer than three years (although other factors may make a serviced option the right option for you). After three years, the savings of a traditional leased office make it the more cost-effective option.</li>



<li>Businesses for whom long-term savings matter more than short-term costs:&nbsp;A traditional leased office requires a greater initial outlay than a serviced office would (see below). But once you’ve invested in making the space your own, the overheads are typically far less than you’re likely to pay with other office types.</li>
</ul>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A traditional way to work</h3>



An office to call your own, big enough to house your entire team with some additional room to grow: that may be the classic vision of an office, but it’s not the only one. Shared offices (or coworking spaces) are increasingly popular with freelancers or small businesses. In return for sharing the workspace with other workers and businesses, you get a typically modern, welcoming space, a relatively low rent and bookable meeting rooms that enable you to deliver a professional service should clients come calling.



So given the flexible, communal alternatives,&nbsp;why do companies prefer traditional office spaces?



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Privacy and security: Communal can be wonderful, but if you’re working on projects of a sensitive nature, or you’re the sort of business for whom non-disclosure agreements are commonplace, sitting in a room of relative strangers isn’t ideal.</li>



<li>Comfort:&nbsp;Not everyone is a social butterfly. When you’re considering which office type is right for you, look at the makeup of your team. If it’s a largely introverted group, pick a traditional office space that will play to their strengths.</li>



<li>Productivity:&nbsp;On the other hand, a team of extroverts and social animals might find so much inspiration in a coworking space that it’s hard to get them to focus on the day job. If knowing where your people are and keeping them task-focused is tricky, a traditional office might help.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/hubblehq/hubble/uploads/wyswigy/Traditional2.jpg?w=1140&#038;ssl=1" alt=""/></figure>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Focus:&nbsp;Coworking spaces can present challenges in terms of noise. After all, everyone is entitled to use the phone, and some office cultures see music as essential to creating a productive atmosphere. If you need control over your own environment, choose a traditional office.</li>



<li>Welcoming visitors:&nbsp;If yours is the sort of business where visiting clients and customers is an everyday fact of life, you’ll find it considerably easier to control the environment they walk into when you choose a traditional lease rather than a coworking space.</li>



<li>Identity &amp; culture: It’s far more of a challenge to create a distinct office culture or identity when you’re part of a larger communal office. With a traditional office, the space is your own, which means it’s much easier to mould it into something that carries your DNA.</li>
</ul>



<h2 id="included-trad" class="wp-block-heading">What’s included in a traditional office?</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional lease</h3>



It does depend on the terms of the lease (not every office arrives at market in exactly the same way) but traditional leased office space is typically delivered in ‘Grade A’ condition. This means you’ll need to add the fixtures and fittings, although the price you pay for the lease will reflect that.



Things to think about at setup might therefore include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Partitions for creating meeting rooms, individual offices, kitchen areas, etc.</li>



<li>IT cabling and internet connections</li>



<li>Office furniture</li>



<li>AV equipment</li>



<li>Kitchen equipment</li>



<li>Telecoms</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/hubblehq/hubble/uploads/wyswigy/reza-rostampisheh--hcCm0kIaSg-unsplash.jpg?w=1140&#038;ssl=1" alt=""/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Types of traditional office</h3>



Where the traditional applies to the way you work rather than the way you rent (i.e. a non-communal space) what’s supplied with the office will depend on <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/serviced-managed-leased-offices-differences" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the type of office you choose</a>:



A&nbsp;serviced office&nbsp;will include almost everything you need to start working from day one. It’s the ‘plug and play option’ that includes furniture, electrics, kitchen equipment and, depending on the individual office, reception facilities.



A&nbsp;managed office&nbsp;gives you all the benefits of a serviced office with the additional ability to choose the specifications of the space, giving you an office that’s precisely tailored to your requirements.



A&nbsp;leased office&nbsp;typically cuts costs by leaving the fixtures and fittings to you. As we’ve seen, that can increase overheads initially, but payoff significantly in the mid-long term.



<h2 id="trad-cost" class="wp-block-heading">How much does a traditional office cost?</h2>



As noted elsewhere in this guide, ‘traditional’ can be a very broad term incorporating a wide variety of office space. To help you narrow the field and find traditional office space that meets your specifications and budget, try our&nbsp;<a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/office-space-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">office space calculator</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/hubblehq/hubble/uploads/wyswigy/lycs-architecture-U2BI3GMnSSE-unsplash.jpg?w=1140&#038;ssl=1" alt=""/></figure>



<h2 id="find-trad" class="wp-block-heading">Where can I find traditional office space?</h2>



Hubble searches the whole market in real time, giving you the pick of available leased, managed and serviced traditional offices. Filter by up-to-date pricing, live availability, location, amenities, exclusive offers and more.



We’ve made finding your next office as easy as booking a hotel room, and we’re trusted by the likes of Trustpilot, Accenture, and Citymapper.



<a href="https://hubblehq.com/en-us" data-type="link" data-id="https://hubblehq.com/en-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find a traditional office today!</a>

Leased Offices

Managed Offices

Serviced Offices

Traditional Offices

A Guide to Traditional Offices

Our Office Rent Calculators help you accurately estimate the costs of planning and moving to a new office.



We have two to choose from:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://hubblehq792.outgrow.us/63c827499b31037ca4354334" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full-time office rent calculator</a></h2>



Get rent estimates for an office 5 days per week



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://hubblehq792.outgrow.us/63c827499b31037ca4354334"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1140" height="711" data-attachment-id="35516" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2024/10/21/office-space-calculator/screenshot-2025-02-10-at-17-05-17/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/screenshot-2025-02-10-at-17.05.17.png?fit=2320%2C1446&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="2320,1446" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Screenshot 2025-02-10 at 17.05.17" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/screenshot-2025-02-10-at-17.05.17.png?fit=1024%2C638&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/screenshot-2025-02-10-at-17.05.17.png?resize=1140%2C711&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-35516" style="width:574px;height:auto" /></a></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://hubblehq792.outgrow.us/part-time-office-space-calculator">Part-time office rent calculator</a></h2>



Get rent estimates for an office 1-3 days per week



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://hubblehq792.outgrow.us/part-time-office-space-calculator"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1140" height="706" data-attachment-id="35518" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2024/10/21/office-space-calculator/screenshot-2025-02-10-at-17-05-03/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/screenshot-2025-02-10-at-17.05.03.png?fit=2342%2C1450&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="2342,1450" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Screenshot 2025-02-10 at 17.05.03" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/screenshot-2025-02-10-at-17.05.03.png?fit=1024%2C634&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/screenshot-2025-02-10-at-17.05.03.png?resize=1140%2C706&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-35518" style="width:576px;height:auto" /></a></figure>



Both calculators provide a location-specific estimate of the amount of rent you should expect pay, powered by Hubble&#8217;s proprietary rental data from tens of thousands of serviced and managed offices across the UK.



💡 Haven&#8217;t settled on a specific area yet? We recommend checking out our blog post – <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/how-much-does-office-space-cost-london-rent-guides">How much does an office space cost?</a> – which gives a holistic view of average rent prices per London area! 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How do our full-time and part-time office calculators work? 🤓</h2>



Powered by Hubble&#8217;s extensive market data for <a href="https://hubblehq.com/office-space-london" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">available private offices</a>, our full-time and part-time office calculators estimates how much you&#8217;ll need to spend on your office according to the expected price per desk in your area.



Our calculators are based on two simple questions:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1) How many desks will you need?</h4>



This question asks for information about the number of workstations or desks your company requires, allowing us to understand the space requirements for your office.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2) Which location did you have in mind?</h4>



We&#8217;ll ask about the specific geographical location or address that you are considering. It helps narrow options or understand preferences related to an office&#8217;s physical location.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How do I calculate how many desks I need?</h2>



Knowing the number of desks you&#8217;ll require in your new office is dependant upon your workspace strategy, but ultimately comes down to the maximum capacity you&#8217;ll need on any given day. 



For companies that are 5 days a week in the office, this calculation is relatively simple, but hybrid- or employee preference-based strategies require more thought. Key factors include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Whether you mandate your team in for office days or have full employee preference – the latter poses the greatest challenge for calculating capacity, as it&#8217;s likely to vary a lot day-to-day. For this we recommend <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/office-move-team-questionnaire">surveying your team</a> to help inform your decision.</li>



<li>Whether you spread out team attendance across different days of the week, or have mandated office days for all the team – the latter can create the need for a lot of office capacity, and the greater likelihood of having quiet days, where you&#8217;re paying for desks that you don&#8217;t use. </li>
</ul>



At Hubble, we recently moved into our brand new part-time office and this is how we figured out what to do: 



First, we looked at our existing office usage to help us establish interesting trends or patterns. We then asked our team to:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Classify themselves as either regular or irregular office users</li>



<li>State why they typically use the office and what they enjoy about it</li>



<li>Explain what would encourage them to use the office more often, i.e. location, amenities, etc.</li>



<li>Give their opinion on what they think we should do with our decision</li>



<li>State which locations they prefer and give multiple options</li>
</ul>



Of course, how complicated surveying your team will be will depend on the size of your team, how distributed your employees are, and what your <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/pros-cons-popular-workspace-strategies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">specific workspace strategy</a> is. 



But for us at Hubble, the decision helped us save £129k a year by moving to a <a href="https://search.hubblehq.com/part-time-offices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">part-time office</a>. This is a 60% saving vs before, and we’re roughly in the same location with a similar quality office and a happy and productive team.



This has ultimately allowed us to have our cake and eat it — reducing our total office spend by 45% whilst ensuring our team feels happy and productive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to search for an office space in 2024</h2>



So, you&#8217;ve completed the calculator and been given an estimate of how much office space will cost — depending on your team size, anticipated usage, and desired location. Now, you want to start your search.



This is where Hubble comes in. For the past 10 years, we&#8217;ve been helping businesses give their teams great places to work. Our <a href="https://hubblehq.com/office-space-london" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">office search platform</a> has over 22,000 offices in over 1800 buildings across the UK with 100% market coverage. So, you&#8217;re bound to find an office for you. 



Our team of expert advisors will assist you with your search, from giving recommendations to attending viewings. They&#8217;ll also work to negotiate the very best price for your office, thanks to our strong relationships with workspace providers. This can go up to a&nbsp;15% discount!



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" class="youtube-player" width="1140" height="642" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fgInOFNaz_0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;start=1&#038;wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
</div></figure>



With our wealth of experience in helping businesses find their perfect office space, we&#8217;ve also got insider knowledge on trends and patterns in the office search market. To find out what these are for 2024, Henry Burn, VP Commerical at Hubble, gives Hubble&#8217;s top tips for finding an office in 2024.



Prefer to read instead? We&#8217;ve written up all the main points in <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/trends-tips-moving-office-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this article</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Find your new HQ with Hubble 🏢</h2>



We’ve built <a href="https://hubblehq.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the UK&#8217;s largest online marketplace for renting flexible office space</a>. 



And through a combination of our platform and dedicated Workspace Advisors, we can help you find your new office on a flexible contract. And when we say flexible, we mean it, with some of our office leases starting from as little as one month.



So, what are you waiting for? Find your perfect office today.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://hubblehq.com/office-space-london" target="_blank" rel=" noreferrer noopener"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="100" data-attachment-id="32533" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2023/03/21/birminghams-meeting-rooms-rent-hourly/find-a-flexible-office-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/find-a-flexible-office.png?fit=900%2C100&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,100" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="find-a-flexible-office" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/find-a-flexible-office.png?fit=900%2C100&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/find-a-flexible-office.png?resize=900%2C100&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-32533" /></a></figure>

Moving Office

Office Budget

Office Costs

The Ultimate Office Rent Calculator

Serviced vs Managed vs Leased Offices: A Comprehensive Guide

70+ London Workspaces with Meeting Rooms Bookable by the Hour

If you&#8217;re planning a move into the UK market then a London base is a first, vital step. Here’s what you need to know about the UK commercial rental scene to make that move a success.
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="12975" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2019/08/19/rent-commercial-space-uk/grant-ritchie-v0xnwlvmqam-unsplash/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/grant-ritchie-v0xnwlvmqam-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="grant-ritchie-v0XNWLVMQaM-unsplash" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/grant-ritchie-v0xnwlvmqam-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12975" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/grant-ritchie-v0xnwlvmqam-unsplash.jpg?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="grant-ritchie-v0XNWLVMQaM-unsplash" width="900" height="600" />
Not all leases are the same. In some countries, a lease confers slightly different rights (on landlords and tenants) to those in the UK. Surrounding the lease are a range of costs and conventions that may be unfamiliar to anyone from outside the UK. And then there’s the process of who does what, when.
So if a move to London is next on your organisation’s to-do list, here’s how to make it easier.
<h2>What should I rent, and where should I rent it?</h2>
Hubble has the largest dataset on London’s flexible office market, together with an unrivalled team of experts to help you use that data to benefit your move into the UK.
So, if you’re searching for a new office and aren’t sure where to start, how much to pay, what’s available, and what sort of spaces your competitors are currently renting, you may find it helpful to start by checking out <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/flex-and-the-city-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flex and the City</a>. It’s our data-driven guide to finding flexible office space in London, and a great starting point for building your knowledge of the UK market.
<a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/flex-and-the-city-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12557" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/flex-download-button.png?resize=900%2C110&#038;ssl=1" alt="flex-download-button" width="900" height="110" /></a>
<h2>Which type of office do I need?</h2>
You’ll find more than one type of office in London – and in Hubble’s listings. If you’re planning a move to the UK, you’ll want to know the difference between office types to ensure the space you rent is right for you.
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="12989" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2019/08/19/rent-commercial-space-uk/simone-hutsch-6c0wzcs0fq0-unsplash/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/simone-hutsch-6c0wzcs0fq0-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="simone-hutsch-6C0wzCs0Fq0-unsplash" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/simone-hutsch-6c0wzcs0fq0-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12989" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/simone-hutsch-6c0wzcs0fq0-unsplash.jpg?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="simone-hutsch-6C0wzCs0Fq0-unsplash" width="900" height="600" />
Serviced office
A serviced office is the ‘plug-and-play’ option, all set up and ready to go from the date you move in. Included in your rental will be utility bills, taxes (most notably VAT, business rates and stamp duty – see below), fixtures and fittings and a range of day-to-day services – for example, security, cleaning and reception (though this depends on the provider).
<a href="https://hubblehq.com/guides/serviced-offices">Find out more about serviced offices</a> 
Managed office
A serviced office may give you everything you need to run your business from day one, but the one thing it doesn’t give you is the opportunity to tailor the space to your own requirements. A managed office delivers all the hassle-free benefits of a serviced office with the added capacity to determine the precise specifications of the building itself. Ideal if you need your office to reflect a particular brand image or culture.
<a href="https://hubblehq.com/guides/managed-offices">Find out more about managed offices</a>
Leased office
Leases don’t typically incorporate the add-on benefits of a serviced office – you’ll have to supply or arrange everything from furniture to WiFi to a coffee machine – but in return you’ll enjoy a space over which you have more control. It can also be the most cost-effective option for businesses looking to settle in one place for a longer period of time.
<a href="https://hubblehq.com/guides/leased-offices">Find out more about leased offices</a>
<h2>Leasing in London</h2>
Every capital city’s property market has its own unique quirks and ways of working. London is no different. Here’s the information you need to help you secure the right lease for your business:
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="12984" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2019/08/19/rent-commercial-space-uk/artur-tumasjan-578uwte4wb8-unsplash/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/artur-tumasjan-578uwte4wb8-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="artur-tumasjan-578Uwte4WB8-unsplash" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/artur-tumasjan-578uwte4wb8-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12984" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/artur-tumasjan-578uwte4wb8-unsplash.jpg?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="artur-tumasjan-578Uwte4WB8-unsplash" width="900" height="600" />
<h2>How long will my lease be?</h2>
Typical commercial lease lengths in the UK vary between 5-10+ years. When you’re making a first move into the UK market that can feel like a daunting and potentially restrictive prospect, but it is possible to negotiate a break clause within the lease.
<h2>What is a break clause?</h2>
Break clauses are an agreement between the parties that one or either party can terminate the lease at a pre-agreed point. Break clauses usually appear in leases of five years or more and are typically exercised at the three-year point of a five-year lease or five years if longer.
Negotiating a break clause can give you greater flexibility and security – particularly valuable when establishing a presence in London. Any clause would be triggered by serving notice, usually six months before the break point. Other conditions may apply to any break clause so checking the terms is essential.
<a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/commercial-property-glossary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out our Commercial Property Guide for jargon-free definitions of other commonly-used office terms and abbreviations you need to know</a>
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="12988" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2019/08/19/rent-commercial-space-uk/samuel-zeller-_es6l-apda0-unsplash/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/samuel-zeller-_es6l-apda0-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="samuel-zeller-_es6l-aPDA0-unsplash" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/samuel-zeller-_es6l-apda0-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12988" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/samuel-zeller-_es6l-apda0-unsplash.jpg?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="samuel-zeller-_es6l-aPDA0-unsplash" width="900" height="600" />
<h2>The additional costs of leasing office space in London</h2>
Your office rental will not be the only cost associated with leasing an office in London. Additionally, you’ll need to factor in the following:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight:400;">Business rates: A municipal tax paid on any building or part of a building used for non-domestic purposes. Budget for roughly 30% of the rental cost.</li>
<li style="font-weight:400;">Service charge: A fee charged by the landlord for the maintenance and upkeep of shared parts of the building or estate. Budget approximately £10 per sq. ft as a guide.</li>
<li style="font-weight:400;">Deposits: Expect to pay a deposit equivalent to 6-12 months’ rental for a lease in the UK. The deposit is an amount which the landlord may access to cover the cost of damage, rental arrears and breaches (by you) of the terms of the lease, but if unused the deposit should be returned to you at the end of the lease.</li>
<li style="font-weight:400;">VAT: Value added tax is charged at 20% on many (although not all) commercial lets. As a VAT-registered business, however, you can also claim back the VAT you are charged.</li>
<li style="font-weight:400;">Stamp duty: A tax payable on commercial property leases with a net present value (NPV) over £150,000. Expect to pay 1% over £150,000 up to £5 million NPV, and 2% for anything above that.</li>
<li style="font-weight:400;">Agent fees: Around 99% of leased deals are managed by agents working for the tenant and landlord and both tenant and the landlord will pay a fee to their respective agents.</li>
<li style="font-weight:400;">Utilities, fixtures and fittings: An additional cost in simple lease arrangements. Included in serviced and managed tenancies.</li>
</ul>
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="12987" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2019/08/19/rent-commercial-space-uk/james-padolsey-tvpvrobv0f4-unsplash/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/james-padolsey-tvpvrobv0f4-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="james-padolsey-tvPvROBv0F4-unsplash" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/james-padolsey-tvpvrobv0f4-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12987" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/james-padolsey-tvpvrobv0f4-unsplash.jpg?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="james-padolsey-tvPvROBv0F4-unsplash" width="900" height="600" />
<h2>When do I pay rent?</h2>
In most cases you’ll be expected to pay your business’ rent and service charge quarterly in advance.
<h2>Can I negotiate rental costs?</h2>
There is usually some room for manoeuvre, and one common bargaining tool when taking a London property lease is a rent-free period. Seen as a ‘settling in period’, as a very rough guide this might amount to 1 or 2 months’ rent free for every year of the lease up to any break clause. Where repairs or alterations to the premises are required when you agree to the lease, the rent-free period is likely to be towards the upper end of the above estimate. The rent-free period is not guaranteed and is very much subject to local market conditions and the specifics of the property, but it can help significantly in offsetting the other costs of the lease.
<a href="https://hubblehq.com/big-teams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">To find out more about negotiation rent-free periods, talk to our team of property experts.</a>
<h2>How is office size calculated?</h2>
One key difference in the UK rental market compared with other countries is that the size of a building is measured by ‘net internal area’ rather than a gross measure. So dimensions of a UK lease property will often appear smaller on paper than its international counterparts because external walls are excluded. In reality, the space may be larger than you imagine.
UK building regulations typically permit 80-100 sq. ft per person within a building.
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="12986" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2019/08/19/rent-commercial-space-uk/james-kemp-pkpuqgxj4yg-unsplash/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/james-kemp-pkpuqgxj4yg-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="james-kemp-pKpuQGxJ4yg-unsplash" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/james-kemp-pkpuqgxj4yg-unsplash.jpg?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12986" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/james-kemp-pkpuqgxj4yg-unsplash.jpg?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="james-kemp-pKpuQGxJ4yg-unsplash" width="900" height="600" />
<h2>Where can I find office space in London?</h2>
Hubble searches the whole market in real time, allowing you to browse and compare between all available office space. With up-to-date pricing, live availability, location, amenities, exclusive offers and more, we’ve already helped thousands of companies of all shapes and sizes find the space in London.
<a href="https://hubblehq.com/big-teams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Talk to our experts now</a>, or start your search here:
<a href="https://hubblehq.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="12563" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/?attachment_id=12563" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/find-button.png?fit=900%2C100&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,100" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="FIND-button" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/find-button.png?fit=900%2C100&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12563" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/find-button.png?resize=900%2C100&#038;ssl=1" alt="FIND-button" width="900" height="100" /></a>

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London calling? Here&#8217;s what you need to know about UK commercial leasing

When you think of ‘conventional’ office space, you’re probably thinking of either serviced office space or a leased office. There are some pretty big differences and it’s important to know which kind of space is best for you. So without further ado, here are the three main things to bear in mind when choosing between a serviced office or a leased space.
<h2 class="p4">Control vs Ease of use</h2>
Setting up shop in a serviced office is simple. The wi-fi is already set up for you, there are meeting rooms available on demand and the office already has desks, chairs and storage space. Essentially, someone else has done all the hard work of turning an empty room into a usable office.
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="15712" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/?attachment_id=15712" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/worklife-hamm.png?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="WorKlife Hamm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/worklife-hamm.png?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-15712" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/worklife-hamm.png?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="WorKlife Hamm" width="900" height="600" />
That’s no use, though, if you absolutely must have custom-made sit-stand desks, ultra-fast broadband for your company’s servers or your own custom meeting-booking system with iPads on the doors. Serviced offices have to appeal to pretty much everyone so they have to be generic to a certain degree. You can often negotiate to replace their desks with yours, say, or to repaint a wall in your favourite shade of purple, but they are not set up to give you the full freedom of a leased space where you can choose to set it up exactly how you want.
A leased space, on the other hand, is much harder to set up. You’ll have to source your own furniture from desks and chairs to kitchens and coffee-makers and set up your own internet but in exchange you and only you get the final say in what your space looks like and how it’s laid out!
<h2 class="p4">Time vs Money</h2>
Serviced offices save you time, but the tradeoff is that they can be more expensive. You can often move into a serviced offices within days of making a decision!
A leased space, on the other hand takes longer to find, fit out and move in to &#8211; and even the paperwork takes significantly longer.
The general perception is that serviced offices are more expensive, and in general that’s true. on a per-month and per-desk basis you’ll pay more, since they do so much more for you. All those services aren’t cheap! But that’s not quite the full picture, and there’s two ways serviced offices might actually be cheaper: the cost of doing things yourself, and more flexibility.
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="3484" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2016/04/06/serviced-office-vs-lease-whats-best-for-your-london-business/ositmayfair/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ositmayfair.jpg?fit=900%2C550&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,550" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="OSITMAYFAIR" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ositmayfair.jpg?fit=900%2C550&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3484" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ositmayfair.jpg?resize=900%2C550&#038;ssl=1" alt="OSITMAYFAIR" width="900" height="550" />
Setting up a leased, unfurnished space can be more expensive than you think. Everything serviced offices do for you you’ll have to do yourself, which you might think would be cheaper but bear in mind that serviced offices buy these things on bulk so they’ll probably get a better deal than you can, and they’ll pass some of these savings on to you.
The other way serviced offices can save you money is that you’ll only pay for the space you actually need right now. Talking of which…
<h2 class="p4">Flexibility vs Commitment</h2>
A lease is measured in years but a stay in a serviced office can be measured in months and even weeks. A one-month notice period is common and it’s rarely longer than three months. This is a really key benefit of London serviced offices: you’ll never be stuck paying for an office you no longer need, which is not only more convenient but it also saves you money.
Of course, it’s not all upsides: the short notice period also means the host has the right to make you move at short notice, since you’re on a rolling contract, but that’s very unlikely in reality and would affect the serviced office’s reputation if they did that often.
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="8053" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/?attachment_id=8053" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/niddry-lodge.jpeg?fit=700%2C400&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="700,400" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="niddry lodge" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/niddry-lodge.jpeg?fit=700%2C400&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8053" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/niddry-lodge.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&#038;ssl=1" alt="niddry lodge" width="700" height="400" />
In a leased space, on the other hand, you have commitment. You know the space is yours for the next five years so you can safely invest time and money into making the space exactly how you want it. The crazy offices you see in magazines by Google, Facebook and the like are only possible because they have long leases on their offices, but they can afford that because they know that they will still need that space in five years.
And really, that’s the crux of it: serviced offices are more flexible, easier and quicker but leased spaces let you really make the space your own.

It just comes down to what you value more.

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London calling? Here’s what you need to know about UK commercial leasing

Serviced Office vs Lease: what’s best for your London business