Here at Boxpod, commercial units are our thing. We see ourselves like a dating agency that matches landlords and their commercial units, to businesses looking for their home.
For businesses, the place where they are based is central to everything from who you can attract to work for you, to who your customers are, how the business works internally, and how company culture is set and maintained. It is an important decision, and we are here to help you to make it.
For a landlord, finding the right business to rent a commercial unit is also very important. The relationship needs to work for everyone – from the amount of rental income the landlord will earn to particular conditions within a contract, their financial security on a longer term, and maintenance and adjustments that are carried out.
Whether you are a retailer, restaurant owner, manufacturer, importer, or have another business that needs an office to work from, we have a commercial unit for you. So, if you are searching for a new commercial unit, why not take a look at our website to see our range of properties that we have on our listings?
In this article, we are going to look at the different types of commercial units that we have here in the UK.
What is Commercial Property?
Commercial property is defined as a property that is used for commercial activities. It is important to be able to define it as it can have implications relating to what the occupiers are allowed to do within the unit, as well as impacting on factors such as council tax and business rates.
Commercial units cover everything from shops and leisure centres, to offices, hospitals, and warehouses.
Offices
For most businesses, an office is a fundamental necessity to ensure that it is well-organised and runs smoothly. It is a place where paperwork is stored, perhaps servers are housed, admin staff based, and correspondence received and sent from. It enables businesses to have a registered business address, and, especially for start-ups and small businesses, it enables a separation between the home and the workplace.
In addition to being a base for many service or manufacturing businesses, offices can be the heart of businesses that offer professional services such as accounting, business consultancy, or banking.
We have had a rollercoaster of a ride with offices in recent years, with the impact of the pandemic, changes in working from home, and ever-horrendous commutes. Despite this, however, offices make up still a fundamental part of the commercial unit market.
There are now three main office types:
- Tenant-managed ‘traditional’ offices usually rented shorter-term.
- Fully-serviced offices – managed by a management company that takes care of elements such as cleaning, manning a staff canteen, and security.
- Flexible or co-working spaces – office units that are usually rented by the day or even by the hour.
Retail/Shop
Shops or retail units are self-explanatory – the places where goods are sold directly to customers. Location is important for retail units, as this can have a major impact on sales, and consequently, the success of the business.
In general, retail units are based in one of four locations:
- On the high street in a village/town/city centre
- Retail parks – usually out of town, clustered together with other retail units
- Shopping centres – both in and out of town, with other retail units
- Kiosks or pop-up shops
Retail units can also be used for other ‘high street’ businesses such as hairdressers and barbers, boutiques, and cafes. If you are looking to rent a retail unit with the goal of using it as something other than for retail, it is important to check to ensure that this is allowed under planning laws.
Storage, Industrial, and Workshops
With the rise in e-business, we have seen a boost in the number of businesses that involve buying and selling products online, before delivering them to their customers. This has, in turn, led to a much higher demand for storage – or warehouse space.
Other needs for storage spaces, include the spaces that some businesses use for archiving paperwork, or storage equipment or supplies that are not needed on an everyday basis. It enables businesses to declutter or minimise the office unit space that they require.
When it comes to renting warehouse or storage space, another great use is for the storage of computer servers and data in the form of data warehouses. With the increased use of AI, the cloud, and Internet of Things, we have an ever-increasing demand for warehouse space.
Depending on the reason for renting a warehouse or storage space, some of the important factors to consider include the location of the unit (good transport links can be very useful to distributors, and proximity to offices can be more convenient), size, and security.
Other industrial units and workshops are used primarily for manufacturing and manual work such as mechanics, repair shops, and creative work.
Leisure and Hospitality
The leisure and hospitality sector is essential to the British economy. It involves a range of commercial units including:
- Hotels and BnB’s
- Cinemas
- Gyms
- Bars and restaurants
Businesses that operate in the accommodation, food, and entertainment areas fall into the leisure and hospitality sector, which is especially important for tourism and quality of life.
Community and Education
The community and education sector includes spaces that are not usually used by businesses. These include properties that are used as schools and colleges, nurseries, community centres and libraries.
They are often used by charities, education providers, and local authorities.
Medical and Healthcare
The medical and healthcare area would include the buildings used for hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, as well as those that are used as care homes. These are mainly used by the NHS or private healthcare providers and clinic owners.
Here at Boxpod, we have a wide range of commercial units to rent across different sectors and have the perfect space for landlords to list their units. Most of our units fall under the office, retail/shop, and storage, industrial, and workshops areas.
So, if you are a landlord looking to list a commercial unit, or are a business looking for one, have a look at our website today!