Stella
Office advisor · replies in minutes
Guide · Office relocation
The office move checklist
Everything to plan, in the right order. The same checklist our advisors run with occupiers.
A good office move runs on sequence.
The right decisions, early enough to matter. This office move checklist takes you through the full timeline in six phases, from setting your brief a year out to settling into your new space. The first two phases are below in full, and you can download all six as a free PDF.
It’s built for a standard 3,000-10,000 sq ft leasehold office move in London. Moving something bigger, smaller or different? Speak to our advisors.
Set the brief
A year out
- Confirm headcount & growthToday's team plus realistic hiring over the lease term.
- Agree your budgetRent, rates, service charge, fit-out and moving costs.
- Define how you want to workDesk ratios, meeting needs, hybrid pattern.
- Shortlist target areasCommute, talent, clients and amenity all in the mix.
- Identify your decision makersWho signs off, and who needs a say before they do
Search & shortlist
Twelve months to go
- Appoint an occupier advisorFree to you, and they'll see space that never reaches the market.
- Tour a focused shortlistTest the commute and the building in person.
- Compare on total costNet effective rent, not just headline. Incentives change everything.
- Run a market searchOn and off-market options measured against your brief
Negotiate & commit
Nine months to go
- Negotiate with your shortlistKeep more than one building in play to protect your leverage.
- Agree heads of termsRent, term, breaks and incentives settled before the lawyers start.
- Review the service chargeWhat’s included, what’s capped, and what it’s cost in past years.
- Run building due diligenceCondition, compliance and anything that could cost you later.
- Legal & negotiationYour solicitor turns the heads of terms into the lease.
- Write the fit-out briefWhat you need built, and what it’ll cost.
- Sign off the space planDesks, meeting rooms and breakout space, sized to your team.
The rest is in the full guide
Design & build
Six months to go
- Secure licence to alterThe landlord’s consent for your fit-out works before anything starts.
- Complete the leaseSigned, dated and legally yours.
- Start the fit-outContractors on site, working to an agreed programme.
- Order connectivityBroadband and phone lines can take months to install, so order early.
The rest is in the full guide
Move & connect
The final eight weeks
- Organise the moveBook the movers, plan the day, label everything.
- Brief your teamNew address, building access and what to expect on day one.
- Move your ITDesks, screens and phones tested before people arrive.
- Resolve dilapidationsAgree what’s owed on your old office before you hand it back.
The rest is in the full guide
Exit vs settle
Move day onwards
- Work through the snagging listLog anything unfinished and get the contractor back.
- Diarise key lease datesBreaks, rent reviews and expiry, so nothing catches you out.
- Make day two workCheck in with the team and fix the small things early.
The rest is in the full guide
Get the full guide
All six phases and 40+ checkpoints, as a PDF, plus we’ll be on hand if you’d like a steer on any of it.
We’ll only use these details to send the guide and follow up. No spam.
On its way.
Check your inbox for The office move checklist. If you would like a steer on any of it, just reply to that email.
Your next move starts here.
Book a viewing.
Tell us who you are and when suits, and our advisors will arrange viewings for your shortlisted spaces.
Your shortlist0 spaces