Your guide to commercial property | Guides

Business rates are a type of tax paid by most commercial properties in England and Wales. If you own a shop, pub, office, warehouse, factory, guest house or holiday rental home, it’s likely you’ll have to factor this charge into your yearly budget. Local councils send the tax bills to commercial landlords or their tenants in February or March every year.

A commercial lease is an agreement between a tenant/business and a landlord that outlines the terms and conditions of the property rental. In this blog post we’re going to explore the different types of commercial leases and who pays the property taxes – landlord or tenant?

Valuing a commercial property can be fairly straightforward, or a complex process involving the calculation of the business’ net income and other financials. It all depends on the type of method you use to reach your final figure.

If you’re thinking about investing in commercial real estate you’ve come to the right place. Making a real estate investment isn’t quite as complex as you’d think, and it’s known to generate some of the most impressive income streams. It’s important to remember to stay patient, carefully consider each decision and do your due diligence.

The industrial property industry is constantly evolving. Due to the rise in online shopping, one area of significant growth is the demand for retail distribution and logistics properties. There are many factors to consider before you start your search for an industrial unit, but this guide should help you feel more confident about the leasing process.

The retail landscape has changed significantly over the past few years. As shopping habits evolve, the type and size of stores on high streets, in shopping malls and in retail parks are adapting.

A typical person spends an average of 84,171 hours at work over the course of their career. And if you’re spending that many hours in a dull, cluttered office, it’s likely to make you feel uninspired and chaotic too. So, how can you apply queen of clean Marie Kondo’s approach to make sure that your office is sparking joy for you and your team? Here’s our guide to giving your office a Marie Kondo makeover.

Commercial properties are split into five categories: retail, industrial, office, leisure and healthcare. Due to them having very different purposes, the right location for one is unlikely to be the same for the other.

Scotland is the UK’s most northerly territory and is a country in its own right that makes up the northern third of Great Britain’s main island. Though it became part of the UK in the early 18th century, Scotland has many distinct laws to the rest of the country and has its own parliament and government. Around 5.4 million people live in Scotland.

The cost of renting or buying retail space in the UK varies from city to city. As you might imagine, setting up shop in London will cost considerably more than in other areas, so it’s important you can justify the extra expense. When you look for average costs, most companies will advertise their spaces with a price per square foot or square metre. This means you can easily compare the cost of all your options to find the best deal for you.

Category C properties are a great opportunity for investors – as long as they are open to risk. They tend to be over 20 years old and located in unpopular areas, so there is plenty of room for improvement and growth. But to understand the benefits of a category C property, it is important to understand how the system works, first and foremost.

Cardiff is both the capital of Wales and its largest city, hosting the country’s National Assembly and most of its national cultural institutions. A hive of commercial activity, Cardiff accounts for around 20% of Wales’ GDP, which in 2007 was around £9 billion.

Fulham is an area in west London that makes up part of the Fulham and Hammersmith London borough.

Everything you need to know about renting commercial property in North England

Wales is best known for its cosmopolitan capital Cardiff and historic copper-smelting centre Swansea, but it’s also home to a stunning coastline and three national parks that are ripe for exploration.

Everything you need to know about renting commercial property in South West England. The South West attracts a lot of businesses, as it has good transport links to London but lower property prices than the capital.

The West Country might be better known for its rolling fields, endless varieties of cider and its stunning coastlines, but it’s also a buzzing business destination. From the media offices of Bristol to the spacious industrial units of Swindon to the leisure properties of Barnstaple, businesses of all varieties flourish in the West Country.

South East England is known for its beautiful green hills, vibrant coastal towns and educational institutions. It has the UK’s second largest regional economy following London and is quickly becoming one of the country’s leading areas in the technology industry, particularly around the M3 in Surrey, M4 corridor in Berkshire and its county town Reading.

Whether you're a shiny new commercial property investor or a seasoned pro, you want to do your due diligence before moving forward with an investment. Some of the questions you may have might be about the property's condition, its current cash flow and value, and the potential income.

Signing a lease on a new office is a major milestone. Perhaps you've found a space that you hope will be your company's home for many years. Or, you may be expanding into new cities and opening regional offices – either way, it's a cause for celebration. Michael Hershfield of WeWork explains the importance of understanding both the short and long-term expenses.

You’ve found the ideal office space – it’s in the perfect location, has ideal facilities and is exactly the right size for your business. Now, all you need to do is turn it from a blank canvas into a welcoming office. So, the office fit out process begins.

Getting the inside track on the planning process can help you turn undeveloped land into a high value investment. Investing in and developing land can be one of the riskiest yet most rewarding endeavours in the commercial property space. If you get it right, land is one of the most lucrative commodities to be in.

Every piece of land differs, and real-estate transactions will vary based on different locations, property uses and individual buyer and seller circumstances. Here’s a checklist of six really useful questions to ask a seller or land agent that will help paint a clear picture.

The professional appeal of having a London address outweighs the many constraints like high cost and lack of space associated with the city. In addition to the general things you need to consider before renting office space anywhere, there are a number of things to consider when renting an office in London specifically.

Before you take that next big step and invest in any leisure property – whether it’s a pub, restaurant, gym or concert hall – take a breath. There are a few searching questions that need to be asked before you buy.