A managed office in London is a private space fitted out around your business, with the operator handling day-to-day running. It is usually a longer commitment than a serviced office: terms are usually 1 to 5 years (12 to 60 months), and operators set their own terms, so confirm. Pricing averages £159 per sq ft per year; the total depends on the size of the space.
Managed space in London runs from Soho to Aldgate and from Camden to Shoreditch. Operators listed on FlexWorkspace include Knotel, Copthall Estates, Oneder, V-Managed and MetSpace.
Teams of roughly 20 to 100 people that know where they want to be for at least a year or two; companies with a brand to express; firms with security or privacy needs; and businesses that want a lease-like space without a lease. If your headcount is changing month to month, a serviced office is safer.
Be clear on term: managed terms in London are usually 1 to 5 years (12 to 60 months), and operators set their own terms.
Size honestly: about 70 sq ft per person is a useful guide; confirm how many people the space fits.
Ask who pays for fit-out and what happens to it at the end.
Check what is in the monthly fee: rent, rates, utilities, cleaning, maintenance, connectivity.
Confirm what you can brand, change or take away.
Ask for exit and break options in writing.
Check VAT, deposit and service-charge reviews.
Compare against a serviced option for your team size.
Compare against a traditional lease if you want to stay five years or more.
Ask for the full terms in writing and take legal advice if you are unsure.
Managed offices are priced by floor area. The average across live listings is £159 per sq ft per year. Available offices show their full monthly cost. The total cost depends on the size of the space, as well as its specification, fit-out and term, and the operator confirms it in a written quote. Terms are usually 1 to 5 years (12 to 60 months); operators set their own terms. Operators often quote excluding VAT, so ask for the figure including VAT.
Usually 1 or 2 years (12 or 24 months) as a minimum, depending on the operator and building, within a typical managed term of 1 to 5 years (12 to 60 months). Operators set their own terms, so confirm before shortlisting.
Usually up to 5 years (60 months): managed terms in London are usually 1 to 5 years (12 to 60 months). Operators set their own terms, so ask for the full terms in writing.
Pricing averages £159 per sq ft per year. The total depends on the size of the space, and the operator confirms the final quote in writing.
Serviced is furnished space in a shared building, usually on shorter terms. Managed is private, tailored space, usually on longer terms, with the operator running it.
Typically not in quotes; confirm VAT treatment on the quote.
Often yes, subject to the building and the agreement. Ask what can be changed, who pays and what happens at the end.
A serviced office is a furnished, ready-to-use office in a building that the operator runs. You pay one monthly fee that typically covers rent, utilities, internet, cleaning and reception, you share facilities such as meeting rooms and kitchens, and the agreement is short and flexible, so you can usually add or drop space as your team changes.
A managed office is a private space that the operator fits out and sets up around your business, usually with your branding, layout and furniture. The operator handles the day-to-day running (maintenance, cleaning, connectivity and similar), so you get the control of your own office without managing it yourself. Managed offices normally come with a longer commitment and a more tailored price.
The labels are used differently by different operators, so always confirm in writing what is included before you sign.
Read the serviced vs managed offices guide · Also compare Serviced Offices in London