Whether you're downsizing, moving to a new building or closing up altogether, the end of an office lease always arrives faster than you think. The move itself gets all the planning. The clearance tends to get left until the last week, which is when things start costing money.
Read the lease before you plan anything
Most commercial leases say what condition the space has to be handed back in. That can mean removing partition walls, carpet tiles, signage and fitted furniture as well as the obvious desks and chairs. If the landlord has to do it after you leave, the cost usually comes back to you as a dilapidations claim. Know exactly what's expected before you book anything.
Start a couple of months out
Give yourself time to work out what's going to the new office, what can be sold or donated, and what needs clearing. Good furniture and working equipment can often go to staff, charities or other businesses, and everything that's reused is something you don't pay to dispose of.
Deal with IT and data properly
Old computers, servers, printers and phones can hold customer and staff data. Make sure drives are wiped or destroyed securely before anything leaves the building, and keep a record of how it was done. Electricals are also waste that has to be recycled through the right channels, not thrown in with general rubbish.
Your business is responsible for its waste
Waste from an office is commercial waste, and businesses have a legal duty of care for it. That means using a licensed waste carrier and keeping the Waste Transfer Notes that show where it went. Manchester City Council's guidance on commercial waste sets out what businesses need to do, and the council can take action if waste isn't handled properly. If a clearance company can't give you a licence number and a transfer note, don't use them.
Plan the day itself
Check access with the building manager: loading bays, lift bookings, parking and any restricted times. A clearance that has to stop for an hour because nobody booked the goods lift costs you time you might not have.
How we help
We clear offices of every size, from a single room to a whole floor. Desks, chairs, storage, kitchen appliances, electricals and general waste all go in one visit, with as much as possible recycled or passed on for reuse. Every job comes with a Waste Transfer Note, and our licence number, CBDU221896, is on the Environment Agency's public register.
Where we work
We carry out office clearances in Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Wigan, Stockport and Bury, along with towns across the wider North West. See our shop and office clearance page for more.
If your lease end date is coming up, call the office on 0161 464 6106 or email enquiries@seniorwaste.com and we'll help you plan the clearance around it.