Do I need a Licence to Alter for my Maidstone office fit-out? ▼
Yes — in virtually all Maidstone commercial buildings, any non-trivial alterations to leased premises require a formal Licence to Alter signed by your landlord before works can begin. In town-centre multi-let buildings, this process can move slowly — landlords typically require architectural drawings, M&E specifications, a Construction Phase Plan, RAMS and proof of contractor insurance. Where planning permission is also needed, we liaise with the Maidstone Borough Council planning portal to run both processes in parallel. We prepare and submit the full LTA package on your behalf and manage it through to landlord sign-off.
How much does a Cat B office fit-out cost at Eclipse Park or Turkey Mill? ▼
For a Cat B fit-out in a Grade A shell at Eclipse Park or Turkey Mill, budget £55–80 per sq ft for a standard SME specification covering partitions, meeting rooms, kitchen and breakout area, Cat 6a cabling, LED lighting and the LTA package. MedTech and healthcare fit-outs at Kent Medical Campus requiring clean-room finishes, acoustic partitioning and robust IT infrastructure run £80–130 per sq ft. Refurbishment of existing town-centre Cat B space starts from £30 per sq ft. New development Cat B at Fielding Park typically runs £50–75 per sq ft. All ranges exclude VAT. We provide a fixed-price quote after a free site survey, typically within 3–5 working days.
Can you work out of hours in Maidstone town-centre buildings? ▼
Yes — and for most town-centre projects it is essential. Buildings on and around Week Street and King Street have restricted loading bay access and active no-parking enforcement during business hours. In multi-let buildings above retail, noise-sensitive work — drilling, floor stripping, partition removal — must be scheduled for evenings and weekends. Parking for contractor vehicles requires active management to avoid fines in the town's controlled zones. We plan the full out-of-hours programme from day one, so other occupiers are not disrupted and building management are not fielding complaints.
What does a MedTech or healthcare office fit-out involve? ▼
MedTech and healthcare firms at Kent Medical Campus and Maidstone Innovation Centre typically require clean, clinical aesthetics with scrubbable, high-traffic wall finishes — particularly where any clinical interface is present. Confidential consultations with clients or patients demand acoustic partitioning of a higher standard than standard Cat B. IT infrastructure must be robust: structured cabling, UPS provisions and server room cooling where required. We have experience delivering these specifications and understand both the aesthetic and compliance requirements the sector expects.
What is dilapidations mitigation and how does it save money? ▼
When a lease ends, the landlord can issue a Schedule of Dilapidations — a list of repairs they claim the tenant owes. If the tenant has no Schedule of Condition from the start of the tenancy, claims can include defects that pre-existed the lease and should never have been the tenant's liability. We offer two services: a Schedule of Condition at tenancy start (photographic and written, establishing pre-existing defects), and at lease end, we carry out the reinstatement works ourselves at contractor rates. This is typically a fraction of the cash settlement a landlord's surveyor would negotiate, because professional fee margins on top of contractor prices are removed from the equation.
Can Section 18 reduce my dilapidations liability in Maidstone? ▼
Potentially — and it is worth assessing early. Section 18(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 limits a landlord's dilapidations claim to the amount by which the value of their interest in the property has been diminished. In Maidstone's town centre, where older stock — including buildings like Maidstone House — faces increasing regeneration and change-of-use pressure, a landlord may be legally prevented from claiming the full cost of repairs if the building is heading for redevelopment or substantial alteration. The Fielding Park and Somerfield Terrace programmes add context to this. We assess your position and identify where this defence applies before the Schedule of Dilapidations is served.
How long does an office fit-out take in Maidstone? ▼
For suites under 1,000 sq ft with a Cat A+ base already in place, allow 2–4 weeks from LTA sign-off. Full Cat B fit-outs in the 2,000–5,000 sq ft SME range — the typical Maidstone project — take 6–12 weeks. Larger corporate or MedTech projects at Eclipse Park or Turkey Mill run 12–20 weeks. The LTA sign-off process takes an additional 2–6 weeks from submission and sits outside the build programme — start early. For town-centre buildings requiring out-of-hours phasing, the effective programme extends and we build this into the schedule from the start.
