UK Office Broker Fees — Explained
Commercial property brokers in the UK typically charge 10-15% of year-one rent. The fee is paid by the landlord or operator, but it's almost always priced into the headline rent — so the tenant ultimately pays it.
Typical fee structure
- Serviced / flex: 10% of year-one all-in rent, sometimes 12-15% on smaller deals.
- Managed: 10-12% of year-one rent.
- Conventional lease: 10-15% of year-one rent or an equivalent multi-month commission.
Hidden costs of going via a broker
- Curated shortlists — you only see buildings the broker has a relationship with.
- Slower negotiation — every reply routes through a middleman.
- Less price discovery — no live, comparable pricing across the market.
FAQs
Who pays the broker fee on a UK office deal?
The landlord or operator pays the broker, but the cost is almost always built into your headline rent. Effectively, you pay it.
What's the typical commercial office broker fee in the UK?
10-15% of year-one rent for flex / serviced deals, and 10-15% of year-one rent (or a multiple-month equivalent) for conventional leases.
Can I negotiate the broker fee?
Rarely — brokers protect their commission. Going direct via Seek removes the fee entirely and gives you that margin to negotiate rent, fit-out or rent-free periods.