Flexi-lease and Serviced Office Terms

The contractual agreement for flexi-lease and serviced offices is normally a licence. This provides an agreement for occupation without protection of tenure as with a lease i.e. it is outside the Landlord and Tenant Act (1974). This enables operators to provide space for flexible time periods. It is important to read licences carefully. Often the terms will change if new licences are not signed at the end of the agreed period and if discounts have been negotiated these may lapse automatically.

Licences can be negotiated for a periods ranging from one month to one year. Fees will increase for the more flexibility you wish to have i.e. the shorter period you are prepared to commit to the higher the office fees will be.

Generally the operator will require you to give notice on a licence of two months prior to the termination date of the current licence. If notice is not given licence terms will generally role forward on a minimum commitment of two months.

Deposits are taken by the majority of providers and these will very between one and two months equivalent of the office fees without VAT and will be held by the operator. It is worth asking whether these funds are held in a trust account or if the operator will accept a solicitor holding your deposit in an Escrow account.

Operators normally increase their office fees in line with RPI; however, these increases may be more frequent if initial discounts have been negotiated.

Charges for additional services will be made on a monthly basis to clients and paid in arrears. A current price list should be requested upon signing the licence. This will ensure that clients are fully aware of what they are likely to incur in the day to day running of their business. Charges may include outgoing telephone calls, internet line rental, parking, postage, meeting room hire, catering, stationery, fax traffic, photocopying, etc.

Offices Please provide business services such as business centres, virtual offices, conference and meeting rooms, flexible managed leases, traditional leases, and many other business solutions.