Office Refurbishment in London
Have you grown tired of seeing the same endless rows of cubicles that occupy your entire office space? You can turn any office design you choose into reality and create a work environment that will benefit your employees and business for years on end.
With the help of our fit out company in London, we modernize old offices and give new commercial properties a flying head start.
London Commercial Fit OutPlumbery – The Right Fit for London Offices
Whether you need a modern facelift or your lease is about to expire, our office fit-out services are designed to suit you under any circumstances. The professionals you’ll meet always carry the proper equipment and will guide you through every step of the project.
Modernizing Premises
- Conference facilities
- Staff areas & Canteens
- Wall finishes & Decoration
- Meeting facilities
End of Client Lease
- Replacing floor coverings
- Changing suspended ceilings
- Altering wall finishes
- Redesigning floor plans
- Lighting & Bathroom upgrades
No Job is Too Big or Small
From new office partition systems and glass partitions to simply painting your ceiling in matching colours – our fit-out specialists stop at nothing until every step of your office remodeling plan has been fulfilled.
We diligently choose and deliver all materials required straight to your property. Simply share your layout ideas, and we’ll take care of the logistics for you!
Fitting out a workspace without stopping the working week
An office fit-out or refurbishment usually has to happen around a business that’s still trying to operate, whether that’s staff working nearby or a hard deadline before a lease renewal. We plan the sequence of work, from partitions and ceilings to flooring and decoration, to keep disruption to staff and clients to a minimum.
Materials are sourced and delivered directly, and every project runs to a detailed, itemised quote covering labour and materials, agreed before work starts. We handle everything from a simple refresh of wall finishes to a full reconfiguration of the floor plan.
Office refurbishment cost calculator
Price an office fit-out per floor: partitions by length and height, fire doors, ceilings, flooring, lighting, power and data, WCs and kitchenettes.
Fit-out stages
Cat A and Cat B: what kind of office fit out do you need?
Office fit out in London is usually described in two stages. A Cat A fit out provides the basic shell and services: ceilings, lighting, raised floors, air handling and fire safety. A Cat B fit out is the tenant's layer on top: partitions, meeting rooms, kitchens, branded finishes, data points and furniture.
Knowing which stage you are buying avoids overlapping scopes and wasted cost. Check your lease or agreement for lease to see what the landlord provides, then list what your team needs on top. A short survey lets us confirm what is in place and price the rest. Try our office fit-out cost calculator for a first range.
Leases
Landlord consent and lease obligations for office refurbishment
Most commercial leases require the landlord's written licence for alterations, and many require the space to be returned to its original condition at the end of the term. Read the clauses on alterations, reinstatement and dilapidations before design starts, as these decide what you can change and what you will be asked to put back.
Share drawings with the managing agent early. They may ask for method statements, insurance details and working hours for the building. Planning this at the start keeps an office refurbishment on programme and avoids disputes at lease end.
Compliance
Checks before an office refurbishment starts
- Asbestos information for older buildings, and a refurbishment survey before work that disturbs the structure
- A fire risk assessment, updated for new layouts and partitions
- Electrical testing and certification of new and altered circuits to BS 7671
- Building Regulations approval where the work needs it
- Accessibility for staff and visitors
- Energy performance requirements for let commercial property
- Out-of-hours access and security agreed with the building
Working around you
Refurbishing an office while staff keep working
Brief and survey
We measure up, record existing services and agree the scope with your team.
Phasing plan
Work is split by floor or zone so part of the office stays usable.
Noisy work out of hours
Drilling and strip-out can be scheduled for evenings or weekends where the building allows.
Services and finishes
Electrics, data, heating and cooling, ceilings, floors and decoration follow.
Testing and handover
Systems are tested, certificates issued and the space cleaned for move-in.
Cost drivers
What drives the cost of an office fit out in London
Floor area is the starting point, but the biggest swings come from specification. Glass partitions, acoustic ceilings, air conditioning changes, data cabling and the number of meeting rooms all add cost. Out-of-hours working, difficult access and building rules also affect the programme.
Our pricing page shows what is included in a standard scope, and a free survey gives a written estimate for your premises. For cooling work, see our air conditioning installation page.
Questions
Office refurbishment in London: your questions
How long does an office refurbishment take?
A light refresh of a small office can take a couple of weeks, while a full fit out of a larger floor takes months. Design, landlord approvals and lead times for glazing and joinery all affect the timeline. We confirm a programme in writing after the survey.
What is the difference between Cat A and Cat B fit out?
Cat A is the base layer of services and finishes, usually provided by the landlord. Cat B is what the tenant adds: partitions, meeting rooms, kitchens, branding, furniture and data. Your lease or agreement shows which stage applies.
Can you refurbish an office while we are still working?
Often yes. Work can be phased by zone or floor, with noisy tasks scheduled out of hours where building rules allow. Occasional short disruption to power or water is planned and notified in advance.
Do I need landlord permission to refurbish a leased office?
Usually yes. Most commercial leases require written consent for alterations, and some require reinstatement at the end of the term. Check the lease first and involve the landlord or managing agent early.
Do I need planning permission for an office refurbishment?
Internal refurbishment usually does not, but change of use, external alterations or listed buildings may. Building Regulations and fire safety rules often still apply. Check with the local council for your building.
Do I need an asbestos survey before refurbishing an office?
Offices and other non-domestic buildings are covered by a legal duty to manage asbestos, and any building built before 2000 may contain it. Before work that disturbs the fabric, a refurbishment and demolition survey of the affected areas is needed. Ask the building manager for the asbestos register and management plan.
How can I estimate the cost of an office fit out?
Cost depends on floor area, specification, partitions, services and working hours. Use the office fit-out cost calculator for a range, then book a free survey for a written estimate based on your premises.
Starting prices
Office refurbishment prices: what is included
Light refresh from £11 per sq ft + VAT (Cat A from £35)
Light refurbishment of an occupied or empty office: making good and repainting walls and ceilings, new carpet tiles or vinyl, LED light fittings on the existing circuits, replacement sockets and switches, and clean-up and waste removal.
Fit-out and partitions
New partitions and meeting rooms, tea points, toilets, data and power for desks, heating and air conditioning are priced after a survey of the space.
What costs extra
Out-of-hours working, furniture, landlord's approvals and building control fees. Office prices are quoted plus VAT. Each item is shown in your written quote.
Price calculators
Work out the cost of your project online
Start with our office fit-out cost calculator, or choose another project below. Each calculator has its own page. The estimate includes labour, materials and VAT, and you see it without leaving your details.
Local pages
We work across every London borough
See the boroughs we cover, the postcodes in each one and the jobs we are called to most locally.
Why Plumbery
Qualified, insured and upfront about price
Every engineer we send is registered or qualified for the trade they work in, and you can check the details before anyone starts.
- Fully insuredEvery job is covered by our insurance.
- Rates published in advanceOur hourly rates are on the pricing page. Nothing starts until you agree the rate.
- Paperwork includedGas safety certificates and electrical records are provided on completion.
- Registered companyPlumbery Ltd, company no. 11677583, registered in England and Wales.
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