What to ask when viewing an office space: the questions that matter

Booked a few office tours? The right questions save you from signing up for hidden costs, the wrong commitment, or a space you’ll outgrow in six months. Here are the ones worth asking — grouped by what they protect you from.

The most important questions to ask on an office tour fall into five areas: what’s included in the price, how long you’re committing for, what happens when your team grows or shrinks, what the space and amenities actually offer day to day, and what the move-in process involves. Get clear answers on those five and you’ll avoid almost every common regret.

1. What’s actually included in the price?

The headline desk rate is rarely the full picture. Ask exactly what the monthly figure covers, so you can compare like with like:

• Are business rates, utilities and building insurance included, or billed separately?
• Is cleaning included, and how often?
• Is furniture provided, or is it an extra?
• What internet speed comes as standard, and what does an upgrade cost?
• Are meeting rooms included, discounted, or charged at full rate?
• Are there any one-off costs — set-up fees, deposits, or exit fees?

Compare the all-in monthly cost, not the headline rate. A “cheap” desk often isn’t once internet, meeting rooms, furniture and rates are added on top — while an all-inclusive price covers everything in one figure, with no surprises. For how the numbers stack up, see our guide to how much it costs to rent a private office in London.

2. How long am I committing for?

Commitment length is where teams most often get caught out. Ask:

• What’s the minimum term?
• What happens at the end of it — does the price jump, or roll over at the same rate?
• Can I change office or adjust my space mid-contract?
• How much notice do I need to give to leave or change?

Flexible providers commit you for as little as three months — at Work.Life, terms start from three months with the option to change office mid-contract as you grow, so you’re not locked into the wrong footprint. A traditional lease, by contrast, can tie you in for years. (If you’re still weighing the options, our guide to serviced office vs lease vs coworking breaks down which suits which stage.)

The simplest way to get clear answers on all of this is to ask in person — book a tour and we’ll walk you through the terms with no obligation.

3. What happens when my team grows (or shrinks)?

The space that fits today may not fit in six months. Ask:

• Can I take a bigger office in the same building if I grow?
• What happens if I need to downsize?
• Is there a penalty for changing my space?
• How quickly can a move be arranged?

This is worth pinning down before you sign — a team that’s 12 today and 25 next year doesn’t want to be stuck or forced to move buildings entirely.

4. What’s the space and the day-to-day really like?

Beyond the office itself, the shared facilities and atmosphere shape your working day. Ask:

• What are the access hours — is it genuinely 24/7?
• What meeting rooms, phone booths and breakout areas can I use?
• Is there a community or events programme?
• What’s the WiFi like in practice?
• Can I brand the space or customise the layout?

If you can, visit at a busy time of day to see how it actually feels when it’s full. See what’s on offer across our London, Manchester and Reading locations, or browse our meeting rooms if that’s a priority for your team.

5. What does moving in involve?

Finally, the practicalities of getting started:

• How soon can we move in?
• Is the office furnished and ready, or is there a fit-out wait?
• What’s included on day one?
• Who handles IT setup, deliveries and maintenance once we’re in?

A serviced office should be move-in ready — furnished, connected and cleaned, with an on-site team handling the day-to-day. If there’s a six-week wait for furniture, that’s a cost in time you’ll want to know about upfront. Our private offices come fully furnished and ready to work from day one.

Try before you commit

If you’re not ready to choose, you don’t have to. You can book a coworking day pass from £35/day, or a private office for the day or meeting room on demand, to spend a day in a space and see how it feels before committing to anything longer. Browse our coworking spaces to find a location near you.