15 Questions to Ask Before Signing an Office Lease

Introduction – a lease is a multi-crore decision: ask the right questions

Office space isn’t a line item you renegotiate every quarter; it’s a multi-year, multi-crore commitment that can either boost your balance sheet or bleed cash. A thoughtful Q&A session with every prospective landlord beats months of legal wrangling later. Use the fifteen questions below—drawn from AIHP’s own deal-desk experience—to stress-test any lease before your pen meets the dotted line.

Question 1: What is the all-in cost per square foot?

Base rent is only page one. Fold in common-area maintenance (CAM), utilities, diesel back-up, façade cleaning and property tax to see the actual monthly rupee outflow.

Question 2: How many months of deposit are locked?

Most corporate landlords ask for nine months plus 3 months of CAM. Managed-workspace operators such as AIHP need only six, freeing serious working capital.

Question 3: What lock-in period and break fee apply?

Lock-in is the “can-I-leave” timer; the break fee is the cash penalty if you exit before that timer ends. Clarify both—some leases bury extra charges in small print.

Question 4: How are rent escalations structured?

Annual bumps of five to eight per cent are normal; others compound every three years. Plot escalations across your full term so CFOs aren’t ambushed.

Question 5: Who pays for the fit-out?

Traditional shell-and-core space pushes interiors (₹3,500–₹5,000 / sq ft for a Class A office in Delhi, per Colliers) on tenants. AIHP’s zero-CapEx lease rolls that cost into your monthly fee—no front-loaded capex.

Question 6: Does the building hold valid Fire NOC & Occupancy Certificate?

A compliant base building means your own NOC issues in days, not months. No NOC equals stalled move-in dates.

Question 7: What structural load can the floor handle?

If you run heavy servers or lab equipment, confirm the slab can carry more than the standard 400 kg / m² to dodge costly steel plates later.

Question 8: Is dual-ISP fibre already routed?

Redundant internet paths reduce downtime risk—a must for 24 × 7 support centres and fintech ops.

Question 9: How long until the space is move-in ready?

Shell-and-core build-outs stretch nine months; AIHP usually delivers desks, data, and branding within 60 days after design approval—critical when you’re racing market launch dates.

Question 10: What after-hours HVAC & power tariffs apply?

Night-shift teams may see chilled-water or diesel charges jump after 18:00. Verify the rate card if you run late or weekend sprints.

Question 11: Is parking adequate and affordable?

Ratios vary by building, and extra bays are charged on top of rent, so get the ratio and the monthly rate per bay in writing. Metro-adjacent towers often let you trim parking counts entirely.

Question 12: What make-good clause will trigger at exit?

Returning space to bare shell can cost $6–$13 / sq ft in Delhi, $9 on average, per Cushman & Wakefield’s 2026 fit-out guide. Negotiate “leave as is” or “fair wear and tear” language while leverage is on your side.

Question 13: Are sub-leasing or desk-sharing allowed?

Future-proof your agility. If hiring stalls, sub-leasing excess seats cushions cash burn—unless the lease forbids third-party occupancy.

Question 14: Does the tower meet ESG or green ratings?

LEED, WELL or GRIHA certificates lower energy bills, lift brand perception and sometimes unlock tax rebates. Two AIHP buildings are certified: AIHP Millennium (GRIHA 4-Star) and AIHP Skyline (LEED Gold). If your ESG team needs a certified address, ask about those two.

Question 15: What expansion or contraction rights exist?

Growth fits nobody’s exact forecast. Aim for first right of refusal on adjacent floors and flexibility to release space if head-count shrinks.

Conclusion – turn answers into a deal-score matrix

Drop each answer into a simple spreadsheet, score red-amber-green by importance and total the columns. The math shows which location delivers the best long-term value—before you’re locked in for years.

Ready to tour a zero-CapEx floor that already answers these fifteen questions the right way? Book an AIHP site visit and see how a 60-day delivery lease simplifies the entire leasing equation.