Help with costing utilites!

Frosty3006

Hi there, I am after some very rough figures on utility bills for a small commercial property.

I have viewed the property once and have yet to get specific details from the agent but am trying to piece together some rough costings.

1000sqr ft shop to be used as a Physiotherapy clinic.

So far i can see a small sink and toliet. Main office space of 530 sqr foot with 5 large radiators and lighting throughout as a combination of strip lights and office recessed suspended ceiling lights. Rest of the space is toilet, storage and rear outbuilding which may or may not be used.

Other items used will be a small computer, lamp and telephone.

Please can anybody give me some very rough ideas of what utilities may be? As I am clueless at the moment.

Many thanks!

dogshome

Too many variables for anyone to guess the costs

5 large radiators warming 530 Sq.ft ? - Seems a lot and are they Gas heated rads or Storage radiators - How well is this office (your work area?) insulated?

I get the impression this is your first occupancy of Commercial premises, if so be prepared for an avalanche of calls from Utility brokers and Utility Co's wanting to sign you up to a verbal supply contract over the phone.

Do not agree to anything over the phone and ask to be posted a hard copy of any contract offered, and when you get it, read it. Also make sure any staff you you have on the premises are fully briefed that only you are authorised to deal with Utility supplies.

You will be on a 'deemed' contract with the current supplier, who may as you are a 'new' account start chargeing you extortionate "Out of Contact" prices
Get onto this supplier before you sign the lease and ask them what the annual Kwh useage was for the previous tenant, then ask them what their prices will be to you. When you have these prices thank them and say you will contact a few brokers to see if there is better offer on the market - Chances are they will better the offer -but still contact some brokers

Frosty3006

Thank you for your reply.

Essentially there are 4 gas rads within was was used as a partitioned office layout. With one more in a small kitchen area. I'm looking at using the property for a physiotherapy clinic and so would put new partitioning up. Water will be low cost, but electricity and heating in winter will be the main one.

I will deffinatly try and speak with the previous/current supplier and see what their usage was like. Is this something the estate agent/landlord will be happy to pass on to me?


Many thanks

dogshome

If the premises have been empty for some time, liability for the Utilities will have reverted back to the landlord, or his Manageing agent.

However commercial tenants are free to choose suppliers, so if the unit has only just become vacant the Landlord/Agent may not yet know

Google "who is my Utility supplier" - There are several advisory sites, but you need to know the post code and Meter Nos. to use them
The Gas is easy with one central phone number - 0870 608 1524
The Elec is more complex as it depends on the region of the country you are in, but you will find all the phone numbers listed