When you need office space, you have two fundamental options: a serviced office (all-inclusive, managed, flexible) or a traditional commercial lease (bare shell, self-managed, long-term). The monthly rent on a lease looks cheaper — but the total cost rarely is.

What a Traditional Lease Actually Costs

A typical commercial lease in Leeds looks like this:

  • Rent: £15–£30/sq ft (£1,500–£3,000/month for a small office)
  • Business rates: £3,000–£8,000/year
  • Service charge: £3–£6/sq ft/year
  • Utilities: £200–£500/month (electricity, heating, water)
  • Internet: £50–£200/month for business-grade broadband
  • Insurance: £500–£2,000/year
  • Fit-out costs: £5,000–£30,000 upfront (desks, chairs, decoration)
  • Deposit: 3–6 months rent upfront

Add cleaning, maintenance, reception services, and the time you spend managing all of it. The "cheap" lease is now costing you £3,000–£5,000/month for space that a serviced office provides for £595–£1,895/month with everything included.

What a Serviced Office Includes

At Airedale House, one monthly payment covers:

  • Furnished, private office space
  • Business rates and building insurance
  • All utilities (electricity, heating, water)
  • Gigabit internet (wired + WiFi)
  • Reception and mail handling
  • Daily cleaning
  • 120 free parking spaces
  • 24/7 building access
  • No deposit, no fit-out, no exit fees

When a Traditional Lease Makes Sense

A lease is better if you need more than 15 people in one space, want complete control over the fit-out, or plan to stay for 5+ years. For everyone else — especially businesses under 15 people or those unsure about long-term growth — a serviced office is the lower-risk, lower-cost option.

Book a free viewing at Airedale House to compare for yourself.