As we said at the start of this section the location must suit your business. The premises must provide enough office, work, and storage space. Will you need room to expand and is the way the space is laid out important? For example, would you prefer an open-plan office with reception area and a meeting room. For different businesses, you will have different considerations; You may need access for employees, customers and deliveries seven days a week, or at night.
Do you have proper access for disabled people? this is a legal requirement. Do you need to be on the ground floor? How many entrances, how wide and how high? Does the work you do call for particular services such as gas or three-phase electric power? Do you have plant or processes that need special ventilation or air conditioning? Do you have unusual requirements for waste disposal and drainage? The appearance and comfort offered by your premises must be appropriate to your business.
Draw up a 'property spec', including all the details of what you are looking for. Note which aspects of the spec are essential, and which are merely desirable. The following action list is useful to when determining exactly what type of premises your social enterprise requires:
Location may be especially important.
You should specify the type of tenure required, license, lease or freehold.
If you need leased premises, state the length of the lease.
Decide what size of premises you need.
List your requirements - Highlight any special or unusual needs.
What are your requirements for light, both natural and electric, and heat?
What facilities, such as WCs and a kitchen, will your customers and employees need?
Will expansion or layout changes be possible?
Must your premises have special physical attributes, such as overhead clearance, upper-floor loading or reinforced foundations?
Indicate your type of business as it will be easier if this is covered by the property's existing planning permission.
Planning permission may be a critical factor - What planning category does your business come under?
What new planning permission might you need, such as permission to put up a large sign?
State your maximum price, including VAT and any annual charges.
Click the button to launch a Print Friendly page of the above checklist.
The building must be structurally sound - An older building may look nice, but will the wiring and plumbing be adequate?
A good spec will stop you wasting time looking at premises that are non-starters.
