Dilapidation and Handover: How the Process Works
Short answer: Reinstatement planning typically starts 2 to 3 months before lease expiry for offices, running through site survey, contractor appointment and a final inspection week with a rectification buffer before handover.
The typical phase breakdown
ID Work Studio's commercial reinstatement guide lays out a five-phase timeline. Three months before expiry: review your lease and request the landlord's reinstatement scope in writing. Two months before: survey the site and get quotations from contractors. Six to eight weeks before: confirm your contractor and identify any technical requirements, like gas decommissioning or structural approvals. One month before: appoint the contractor and schedule your move-out. In the final week: inspection, rectification of anything flagged, final cleaning, and handover.
Larger or more complex units, especially retail and F&B, generally need to start earlier: Zoro Interior recommends 3 to 6 months before expiry for retail shops, against 2 to 3 months for a typical office.
How long the actual work takes
On-site duration varies by space type and size. ID Work Studio notes small offices can finish in a few days to two weeks, while larger offices and retail units need more time for approvals and inspections. Zoro Interior puts retail project duration at 2 to 4 weeks for small units and 6 to 10 weeks for large or complex ones, and its restaurant guide gives F&B the same 6 to 10 week range.
Whatever the estimate, build in slack. A final-week inspection almost always turns up something to fix, and a rectification buffer is cheaper than a late-handover penalty from your landlord.
Related guides
- Reinstatement Works Checklist Before Handover
- Security Deposit and Reinstatement Costs: What Happens If You Don't Comply
Sources
Checked July 2026.