De-fit is the reverse of fit out: returning an office to the condition the lease requires before you hand it back. That usually means stripping partitions, removing the kitchen and finishes, making good the ceiling and floor, and reinstating anything the lease says must be reinstated. Done badly it is the most expensive part of leaving a building, because the landlord's dilapidations claim fills any gap.
The contractors here either list de-fit and dilapidations as a service or are refurbishment contractors large enough to run strip out as part of a wider programme. For most occupiers the practical choice is to appoint the firm doing your new fit out to handle the de-fit of the old space as well.
The lease schedule of condition and the landlord's dilapidations schedule define the job. Before instructing a de-fit, get a building surveyor to review both; landlords frequently claim for reinstatement that the lease does not require, and a negotiated cash settlement is often cheaper than the physical work. Several contractors on this page work with dilapidations surveyors routinely and can price both options.
Paid placements, clearly labelled. Featured firms are still verified the same way and still sit in the alphabetical list below.
Top of office de-fit and strip out contractors with direct contact buttons on the card. Six slots per size band, first come first served.
See featured listingsTop of office de-fit and strip out contractors with direct contact buttons on the card. Six slots per size band, first come first served.
See featured listingsTop of office de-fit and strip out contractors with direct contact buttons on the card. Six slots per size band, first come first served.
See featured listingsGrouped by the floor areas each firm is set up to deliver, because that is the first thing that rules a contractor in or out. Alphabetical within each band, featured firms included, so nothing is hidden behind a paywall.
Typical projects £50k to £500k for scale ups, professional services and creative firms. One team designs, builds and furnishes.
Turnkey office fit out. Medical fit out capability. Free complementary site visits. London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex.
Refurbishment led, boutique band. Names Goalhanger and Allergy Centre of Excellence among its clients.
The core of the London occupier market. £300k to £5m projects, usually design and build, with dedicated project managers.
Coworking/flex space, education, laboratory fit out. Founders of The United Workplace global network. 10+ offices across Europe.
Refurbishment led, mid market band, trading since 2000, part of Fourfront Group, 250+ (group) staff, B Corp certified. Names Citrix and Infosys among its clients.
Defect free delivery ethos. Projects £1m to £50m+. Fiercely independent. Directly employs many tradespeople.
Design and build, mid market band, trading since 2000. Names Virgin Media and O2 among its clients.
70%+ repeat business. Hybrid workspace design.
Cat A and Cat B, mid market band, trading since 1996, 120+ staff, employee owned. Names AQA and Flutter/Paddy Power among its clients.
Directly employs own tradesmen (rare in sector). Strong charity/not for profit sector presence.
Design and build, mid market band, trading since 1978. Names Shelter and L'Oréal among its clients.
10,000+ projects completed.
Design and build, mid market band, trading since 1977. Names Lacoste and ServiceNow among its clients.
Design & build exclusively. Coworking/flex design. University refurbishment.
Cat A and Cat B, mid market band, trading since 1995, B Corp certified. Names Gymshark and Adidas among its clients.
Three divisions: Lite (under £500k), Interiors (larger schemes), Regions (Cambridge/Home Counties). Wellness driven design.
Design and build, mid market band, trading since 1997, ~100–150 staff. Names Tech Companies among its clients.
End to end bespoke design & build. In house M&E team. 30+ years London specific experience.
Design and build, mid market band, trading since 1987, ~120–148 staff. Names Hampshire Trust Bank and Aristocrat among its clients.
Free office design on all projects. Crittall glass partitions. Bespoke joinery. National coverage from Clerkenwell base.
Refurbishment led, mid market band, trading since 2000.
25+ years experience across London, Manchester and Hampshire offices.
Design and build, mid market band, trading since 1990. Names Clearwater International and Tata Communications among its clients.
Landlord Cat A programmes, corporate headquarters and multi floor phased schemes. Usually with an independent architect and cost consultant.
Design led office fit out, workplace consultancy, biophilic design. 78%+ repeat business rate.
Refurbishment led, enterprise band, trading since 1977, part of Morgan Sindall Group plc, 201–500 staff. Names UniCredit and Greystar among its clients.
UK's leading fit out specialist. 91% net promoter score. Projects up to £200m.
Design and build, enterprise band, trading since 1942, part of Morgan Sindall Group plc, ~1,000 staff. Names Virgin Media O2 and GSK among its clients.
Heritage preservation, sustainable refurbishment, public sector. 500,000+ sq ft delivered in prestigious London locations.
Design and build, enterprise band, trading since 1852, part of Willmott Dixon Group, 4,000+ (group) staff.
Tell us the floor area, the budget and the timing and we will introduce three suitable firms from the directory. No fee, no obligation, and no company pays for the introduction.
Get matchedTypically £10 to £30 per sq ft depending on how much needs reinstating. A light strip out of partitions and finishes sits at the bottom of that range; full reinstatement of M&E and ceilings to a Cat A standard sits at the top.
A 5,000 sq ft floor can be stripped and made good in two to four weeks. Larger floors and reinstatement of building services extend that to six to ten weeks.