Commercial property
Planning work on commercial premises
What your contractor needs to know about the building, how it is used and when the work needs to be finished.
A landlord preparing for a new tenant may have a refurbishment brief. A tenant fitting out premises may already have drawings. At the end of a lease, there may be an agreed schedule of dilapidations setting out the work. We work with each of these starting points. Send us the documents you have and explain what the premises need to be ready for.
Be clear about the outcome
Describe what the building needs to be ready for. Will the same team continue using it? Is the use of the space changing? Are you working towards a handover? These questions give more context than a list of finishes alone.
What to share with the contractor
| Your starting point | Information to bring |
|---|---|
| Landlord refurbishment | The refurbishment brief, intended use of the premises and any handover date. |
| Tenant fit-out | The requirements for the space, available drawings and any access restrictions. |
| Lease-end works | The agreed schedule of dilapidations, the main contact and the date the premises need to be ready. |
If you have a brief, schedule of works or drawings, share them. If you do not, explain the issue in plain language and include photographs where they help.
Explain how the site operates
Let the team know whether the premises will remain in use. Access arrangements, operating hours and the people using the building are important parts of planning the work.
Flag any areas that need to stay accessible and any dates that are fixed. It is better to discuss a constraint at the first conversation than discover it after a programme has been proposed.
Know who needs to be involved
A landlord, tenant, facilities team and other contractors may each have a part in the project. Identify the main contact and who will review the proposed work. If any permissions or requirements are still being confirmed, make that clear before assuming the work can proceed.
Review the scope, not just the figure
Check that the quotation reflects the work you discussed and the intended finish. Ask what is included, what is excluded and which decisions still need to be made. Where you are comparing proposals, make sure the scope is comparable.
Heritage carries out commercial refurbishment across the UK, planning the trades and programme around the building. Share your brief or talk us through the issue, and we can discuss the work your property needs.
Questions before you start
Can work be planned around an occupied building?
Yes, where the work and safety requirements allow. Tell us which areas need to remain available and any restrictions on working hours. We will discuss how to phase the work and where disruption is unavoidable.
Do you work for both landlords and tenants?
Yes. We work from a landlord’s refurbishment brief, a tenant’s fit-out requirement or an agreed schedule of dilapidations.
