Read your lease first
Commercial leases often include obligations about the condition the premises must be returned in – repair, reinstatement of any alterations, and cleanliness. If you don't meet them, the landlord may claim for dilapidations: the cost of putting things right. Check the lease, any licences for alterations and the schedule of condition from the start of the lease, if there is one.
For anything beyond cleaning, such as removing partitions or reinstating layouts, take advice from a building surveyor.
Plan the sequence
The clean should be one of the last steps:
- Clear furniture, equipment and IT
- Arrange disposal of waste and recycling, including confidential paper
- Complete any reinstatement works
- Book the move-out clean after all works are finished
- Do a final inspection and take photos
What a move-out clean includes
Typical tasks include:
- Floors – vacuuming, mopping and often carpet cleaning
- Kitchens and breakout areas, including inside cupboards and appliances left behind
- Washrooms, deep cleaned and descaled
- Internal glass, partitions, doors and frames
- Skirting boards, window sills and high-level dusting
- Removal of marks from walls where possible
- Light fittings and vents dusted
Carpets
Office carpets take heavy wear, and many leases require carpets to be cleaned at the end. A professional deep clean with hot water extraction, carried out once the office is empty, gives the best result. Allow drying time before the handover.
Get quotes from local cleaners
Getting quotes
Give cleaning companies the floor area, number of rooms, kitchens and washrooms, flooring types, whether it will be empty and any after-works dust. A site visit is usually best for larger offices. Book early – end-of-quarter lease dates are popular. See office cleaning prices and after builders cleaning for related information.
Waste and confidential material
Clearing an office generates a lot of waste. Confidential paper should be shredded through a secure service, and old IT equipment wiped and disposed of properly through a licensed provider. Furniture can often be reused, sold or donated.
Clear all of this before the cleaners arrive – cleaners can't clean around piles of furniture and boxes, and most aren't licensed to remove large amounts of waste.
Photos and handover
Take dated photos of every room after the clean, including kitchens, washrooms and floors. Compare them with any schedule of condition from the start of the lease. If the landlord later raises issues about cleanliness, you'll have evidence of the condition at handover.
Moving into a new office
The same applies in reverse: a clean before you move in means you start in a fresh space. Many businesses book a move-in clean and then set up a regular office cleaning contract from day one.
