The UK Office Relocation Checklist (12 Weeks to Move Day)

12 weeks before move day

The biggest office moves go wrong because they're treated like a slightly bigger house move. They aren't. Lease, IT, fit out, comms, staff communication and crate hire all need 12 weeks.

• Confirm lease break date and any landlord exit conditions
• Appoint internal project lead and external relocation partner
• Get fixed price quotes from two or three office removals companies
• Start IT and comms scoping with your provider
• Communicate the move date to staff in writing

8 weeks before

This is when crate hire is booked, IT cut over dates are locked in and the fit out at the new office should already be underway.

• Lock in crate hire and labelling system
• Confirm IT cut over plan (phones, broadband, server move)
• Order furniture and finalise floor plan
• Plan dilapidations work at the outgoing office
• Update postal and registered office address records

4 weeks before

Now everyone packs their own desk into crates. Set a hard deadline. Anything not in a crate by 5pm Friday before move day stays behind.

• Distribute crates to desks with labels
• Confirm parking, lift access and out of hours timing
• Brief staff on first day expectations
• Order replacement consumables for the new kitchen

Move day and the first Monday

A good office move happens over a weekend so staff arrive Monday to a working office, working IT and a kitchen with milk in it. That doesn't happen by accident it happens because someone planned it.