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Laboratory bench with bottles, sample racks and instruments

Laboratory Decommissioning and Dilapidations

One team, one contact: decommissioned, certified clean, claim settled, equipment moved.

Since 2016

10+ years building and handing back
London commercial space

Lab exits and moves

  • 1,550 sq mwith a full M&E package at Portsoken House, Aldgate
  • 8 weeksto design and build Drake's new 500 sq m warehouse, handed over early
  • 60%of the labour on site is our own team
  • £10Mpublic and employers' liability cover on every job

Leaving a lab? Decommission, settle and move in one plan

One team, one point of contact for leaving a lab: Craftex carries out laboratory decommissioning and lab dilapidations for science tenants, so you are not juggling a surveyor, a solicitor and three contractors. We plan the decommissioning, price the claim and the works upfront, negotiate the landlord's claim on your behalf and strip benches, fume cupboards and specialist services back to what the lease asks. Equipment and furniture worth keeping is moved to your next lab or resold, and we can fit the new lab out.

A lab cannot simply be emptied. Specialist gases, extract, drainage and benching have to be decommissioned safely before the landlord's schedule can even be priced. We plan that work with your own safety team, then negotiate the claim on what is left.

Our own RICS-qualified quantity surveyor reviews the landlord's schedule, prices it line by line, prepares the response and negotiates it with the landlord's surveyor. Under section 18(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927, damages for disrepair can never exceed the fall in value of the landlord's interest. A landlord who will re-let the space as a lab may want the benching, extract and services kept, which can cut the claim sharply.

Laboratory bench with pipettes, reagents and scientific equipment under shelving

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What laboratory decommissioning includes

Six parts of a lab exit, each planned with your safety team and priced against your lease.

Clean laboratory with white base units, a sink and equipment along the benches

Benching, casework and fume cupboards

Removed, relocated or left for the next science tenant by agreement.

Laboratory bench with a sink, water purification unit and drying rack below wall shelving

Specialist gases, extract and drainage

Decommissioned, capped and recorded so the services are safe to hand back.

Laboratory instrument on a bench beside a rack of sample tubes

Decontamination records

Carried out with your own safety team, so the handback pack holds their sign-off.

White laboratory bench with a sink and water systems under open shelving

Cleanroom and containment strip-out

Partitions, ceilings and air handling taken out to what the lease asks.

Laboratory instrument with a clear hood and a monitor on a bench

Equipment disconnected and relocated

Instruments and plant disconnected, moved and reconnected at your next lab.

Office floor with a suspended ceiling grid, lighting panels and desks

Reinstatement to Cat A or shell

Floors, ceilings and finishes reinstated to the standard in the lease.

How it works

How a lab exit runs, last experiment to keys

  1. Free claim review

    • Send the lease, licences and schedule. We tell you where the claim is weak.
  2. Priced response and reuse plan

    • Every item answered and priced, plus what moves to your next lab.
  3. Negotiation

    • We meet the landlord's surveyor and argue each item on the lease and the numbers.
  4. Works or settlement

    • You choose the cheaper route: we do the works, or you settle in cash.
  5. Handback and the move

    • Works finished before the end date, keys returned, the next site ready.

Lab equipment and benching: relocate, reuse or strip

Teaching laboratory with white tiled benches, stools and shelving

Equipment worth moving. Benching, fume cupboards, cold rooms and instruments can often move to your next lab or stay for the next science tenant. We list each item before anything is disconnected. More on tenant dilapidations.

White ceiling with exposed ductwork, conduit and pendant lights

One team for both labs. We plan the decommissioning, negotiate the old lease and fit out the new lab together, so your research is not stopped for longer than it must be. See our laboratory fit-out service.

Read more

Lab space is in demand, and the next science tenant may value your benching, extract and services. A priced comparison of strip-out against handover often settles the reinstatement question. Decontamination is always done first, with your own safety team.

Cover of the free Craftex guide to fit-out and M&E works

Free guide: fit-out and MEP works at lease end

How lab fit-out and M&E packages are scoped, sequenced and signed off, written from the technical spaces we strip and fit out. A short, free read before the schedule lands.

One team, one point of contact

Six promises, written into your contract

  1. One team, one point of contact

    No separate surveyor, solicitor and contractors to manage: one person runs the claim, the works and the move.

    Drake's: dilapidation works and the full move to the next warehouse, one team.

  2. Costs upfront, and the figure stands

    We price the claim and the works at the start, and the price we sign is the price you pay at handback.

    we won Drake's warehouse by coming in about £15k below the other quotes.

  3. Our own RICS-qualified surveyor

    An in-house RICS-qualified surveyor on the same turnkey team assesses the schedule, prepares the response and negotiates for you, challenging every over-claimed item with section 18 and the works-or-cash choice.

    No outside surveyor to brief: the person who prices the claim works with the crews who do the works.

  4. Reuse, move or resell

    Benching, lab furniture and equipment that still work go to your next lab or are resold, not skipped.

  5. Our own crews, handed back on the date

    We do the reinstatement and strip-out ourselves, around 60% of the work by our own crews, planned around your operations.

    Portsoken House, built while the other floors stayed occupied.

  6. £10M cover, zero snags

    Public and employers' liability of £10 million each; snagged before you inspect, with certificates and photos for the handback.

Example quotation with the note: send it to us, we will beat it

Already have a quote? Send it to us. We'll beat it.

Holding the landlord's schedule, a decommissioning quote or a surveyor's figure? Send it to us. A director reviews it and replies the same working day with how we beat it for the same scope.

Compare your options

Where lab lease exits go wrong, and what we do instead

AreaThe usual riskWith Craftex
The first figurethe landlord's schedule is paid as sentevery line is tested and priced at real cost
Decommissioningservices are stripped before they are made safegases, extract and drainage are decommissioned first
Benchinggood benching and fume cupboards are scrappedthey move to your next lab or stay by agreement
Recordsno decontamination record at handbackyour safety team's sign-off is in the handback pack
The datethe lab closes before the new one is readyboth labs are programmed together
The moveseparate firms for the claim, the strip-out and the new labone team for all three

What moves the cost of lab dilapidations?

Six things decide what a lab tenant pays at lease end. We settle each one before you agree a figure with the landlord, so the claim reflects your lease and the real cost of the work.

What moves the costWhat we do about it
The reinstatement clause and your licencesWe list what must go and what may stay
Specialist services you installedWe decommission and cap them before pricing removal
Benching, fume cupboards and cold roomsWe offer them to the landlord or move them
Cleanroom and containment areasWe strip back to the base building, no further
The landlord's plans for the spaceWork a re-let as a lab would supersede comes out
Time to the end dateWe programme the works to finish before the lease does

Our team

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Laboratory decommissioning: tenant questions

Can you negotiate our lab dilapidations claim with the landlord?

Yes. We prepare a priced response to every item and negotiate it with the landlord's surveyor. Because we also do the works, every figure we agree is one we can deliver.

Is it cheaper to do the works or pay the landlord?

It depends on the schedule, the time left and the landlord's plans for the space. We price both routes so you can choose.

Do we have to remove our benching and fume cupboards?

Only if the lease or your licence says so. A landlord re-letting to another science tenant may prefer to keep them, and we put that to them.

Who signs off decontamination?

Your own safety team, working with us. We plan the strip-out around their sign-off and put it in the handback pack.

How long before the lease end should we start?

As early as you can, so the decommissioning, the negotiation and the new lab all fit before the end date.

Do we still need a dilapidations surveyor?

Not always. Many tenants use us instead, as the people who price and build. On a large or disputed claim we work alongside your surveyor.

Do you work outside London?

Claim reviews and negotiations, yes, anywhere in the UK. Our crews work across Greater London and the South East.

How fast do you reply?

Fast: every enquiry gets an answer on the same working day it arrives.

What our clients say

See all reviews on Google
  • Craftex has completed a range of both small and large-scale projects on our commercial property with exceptional precision and quality. Dmitriy consistently delivers courteous, prompt service and has shown great flexibility in accommodating last-minute changes to plans and timelines. I highly recommend Craftex for their professionalism and outstanding workmanship.

    Pascal Hunt

  • We recently worked with Sviat and the Craftex team on a complete warehouse refurbishment, and the results have been outstanding. From the very beginning, their team was professional, organized, and attentive to every detail. The project was completed on time and within budget, without disrupting our day-to-day operations.

    Simone Racaku

  • I’m really pleased with my experience working with Craftex. As a commercial construction firm, they handled everything from start to finish without any unnecessary stress on my side. What impressed me was how they suggested practical ideas that improved the design while also keeping things realistic. The communication was always clear, so I never felt out of the loop. The project ran smoothly, deadlines were met, and the end result is exactly what I was hoping for — a space that feels both functional and modern. It’s not easy finding contractors who are this reliable, but Craftex definitely proved they can be trusted.

    Taron Papoyan

  • The results from Craftex’s commercial refurbishment in London are fantastic. The team was friendly, clear in communication, and made sure the project stayed on track. The workspace now feels efficient, welcoming, and modern. Definitely a team you can trust!

    Alaa Betar

  • Hired Craftex for our conversion project. We had to convert a 600m2 office into 8 apartments. Guys did an excellent job in terms of program efficiency and quality of the finishes which gave us a big upside to exit the project 2 months faster than other competitors’ timelines.

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    Rhea Langford

  • I’d like to thank the team at Сraftex for the work they did on our office.
    It was really important for us to get the work done quickly, but without compromising on quality, as we regularly have clients and guests visiting and needed to move into the new office within a month.
    We spent around two weeks discussing and agreeing all the details before the work started. What I really appreciated was that everything we agreed beforehand was actually followed through during the job. The work was also completed on time.
    Thanks to the whole Сraftex team for a great job. I’d definitely use them again if we need any work done in the future.

    IURII PYLYPETS

  • We recently worked with Craftex and honestly couldn’t be happier with the results. From start to finish, the team was professional, reliable, and highly skilled. The quality of workmanship exceeded our expectations, and everything was completed on time and to a very high standard.
    Communication throughout the project was excellent, and they always went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. It’s rare to find a construction company that combines professionalism, attention to detail, and great customer service so well.
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    Adam Miah

  • Great company to work with as always. Super flexible at dealing with evolving requirements and fast deployment and execution.

    Akshay Khanna

  • Hired Craftex to do the full design and fit out of my gym in Chelsea. Super efficient and fast team. They gave the best price and a proper fast track program. We managed to open in less than 6 weeks with no headaches or surprises during construction. Quality was great, we had zero snags on completion. I’ve worked with a few companies before but these guys really impressed me from project management to how they treat the client. Top GGs.

    Александр Хоменко

  • I worked perfectly with Sviat and Joe, with their architect they came up with a very smart design for our office to fit more desks and optimise the space to its maximum capacity. They also did excellent value engineering on the MEP design proposed by others, allowing us to save around £50K. The quality and speed were outstanding we finished two weeks ahead of schedule. Highly recommend these guys.

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  • Happy with the end result. Tight timeline but they pulled it off. The team worked late shifts and even weekends to help us open the doors on schedule. Site was always left tidy at the end of the day and no surprise charges either. Good communication throughout. Would definitely use Craftex again.

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  • Highly recommended!
    Craftex are the kind of fit-out contractors in London you can truly trust. From the very first meeting, they understood our vision and gave practical ideas to make the most of our space. They turned our old storage area into a clean, efficient, and well-organized warehouse. The team was professional, easy to work with, and clearly took pride in their work.

    Monika Kamionka

  • We brought in Craftex to refurb our London office and honestly, they made the whole thing way easier than we expected. They listened, suggested ideas we wouldn’t have thought of, and explained everything clearly. Not the cheapest quote we got, but the end result shows why, the place looks modern, clean, and our team actually enjoys being here now. Communication was spot-on too. No chasing and confusion, deadlines were hit. If you want people who genuinely care and don’t treat your project like “another job,” I’d recommend them.

    A Google User

  • Sviat and his team at Craftex were brilliant to work with on our office redesign. From the first meeting, they took the time to understand how we actually use the space rather than just pitching generic solutions. They came back with clever, practical ideas to maximise use of the space and get more employees and desks inside . Every step was handled professionally, and the process felt surprisingly smooth for a project of this size. They finished one week ahead of schedule, and the transformation is clear — our office feels brighter, more functional, and much more welcoming. I’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone who wants a reliable design team that also makes the journey enjoyable.

    Cucu Iulian

  • My experience with Craftex was excellent from beginning to end. They took the time to really listen to what I wanted and then offered practical suggestions that made the design even better. I always felt like they cared about creating a space that worked for me, not just one that looked nice on paper. The end result is an office that feels stylish, welcoming, and very functional for day-to-day work. The process itself was straightforward, well-managed, and never stressful. I’d definitely recommend Craftex if you’re looking for office design and build services in London — they made the whole journey a positive one.

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  • I had an amazing experience working with Sviat and the Craftex team on our office fit-out in London. They were always professional, responsive, and quick to offer the best advice whenever decisions needed to be made. I really appreciated how they balanced style with practicality — the office doesn’t just look fantastic, it works perfectly for our team. Everything was done with care and attention to detail, and the project never felt overwhelming because they managed it so well. Communication was clear from start to finish, and I always felt involved in the process. I would happily recommend Craftex to anyone looking for a trustworthy contractor.

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  • Craftex carried out a warehouse fit-out for us, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. The space has been completely transformed into a highly organized and efficient environment that makes our daily operations much smoother.
    The team was professional but also very approachable — I always felt comfortable asking questions or giving feedback. They came up with smart, practical solutions that worked perfectly for our setup, and everything was explained clearly along the way.
    The best part was how they stuck to the agreed timeline, finishing on schedule without cutting corners. It’s rare to get both quality and reliability, but Craftex delivered both.

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  • We’re extremely happy with Sviat and the Craftex team’s work. They suggested clever ideas, managed the project efficiently, and delivered a functional, modern space. The team was easy to communicate with and very professional throughout the process!

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  • I can honestly say our office has been completely transformed thanks to Craftex. From the very first meeting, the team was approachable, professional, and full of creative ideas that really made sense for our business. They didn’t just focus on how the space would look but also how it would work for the team day-to-day. The new layout is efficient, modern, and welcoming, and you can tell they really thought about the details. The whole process was smooth and surprisingly stress-free. They kept me updated at every stage, which gave me confidence. I’m really happy with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

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  • We hired Craftex for a commercial ground floor fit-out with 2 flats above. There were some minor co-ordination hiccups with third-party suppliers but the team kept it moving. Finish quality was strong. Kitchens and doors look great. I have already asked them for a quote on the next project.

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  • These guys actually deliver. They handled our first industrial to residential conversion near Tower Bridge, turned an old warehouse into 4 modern flats. They stuck to the plan, kept the site clean and the timing was on point. No hidden extras, no drama, just a professional construction company in London that gets the job done.

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  • We recently hired Craftex for a commercial office fit-out project in Central London, and overall, we’re really happy with the result. There was a delay on our side with a custom glass partition supplier, but the Craftex team managed the construction schedule very professionally and kept everything on track. Their guys worked clean, respected our workspace and IT setup, and kept the site tidy throughout. If you're looking for a reliable office refurbishment company in London, I’d definitely recommend Craftex. Would use them again without hesitation.

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  • This was a full high-end renovation of my Victorian rental apartment in Westminster, just off Sloane Square and Belgravia. The scope included full fit-out: electrics, plumbing, a new bespoke kitchen, and a luxury bathroom refurbishment. Craftex took care of everything and made the process easy. They weren’t the cheapest, but you can tell they really know what they’re doing when it comes to prime London property renovations.
    The team was professional, organised, and genuinely seemed to care about getting everything right. I was especially impressed with the quality of the finish – the attention to detail really shows in every corner.
    I’m very happy with the results and would definitely recommend Craftex to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality renovation work in Central London.

    Наталия Цимбалюк

  • I was stressed about timing since we had bookings lined up, but they smashed it. Even worked Saturday to finish the floor. My clients love the look — the beauty salon fit-out turned out exactly how I wanted. Couldn’t have pulled it off without their help. Genuinely appreciate the way they communicated throughout the refurbishment. If you need reliable help with beauty salon design or fit-out, especially in a place like Chelsea — these are the guys.

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  • We used Craftex for a shop-to-flat conversion in Chelsea — turning an old retail space into two rental units. Access wasn’t the easiest, but the guys handled it well, no drama. Quote was clear, no hidden extras, and they actually stuck to it, which is rare. Finish came out solid, exactly what we needed for rentals. Joe (PM) kept things ticking and communication was always on point. All in all, smooth job — would use them again for sure.👍

    Apartify Estates

  • Fuse Energy hired Craftex on the fit-out and installation of our engineering and research centre, which included electrical, heating, lighting, plumbing, and ventilation upgrades. They delivered everything to a high standard and were proactive throughout — even working weekends to help speed up the programme, despite not being contracted to. They managed last-minute changes very well, communication was clear and consistent, and the team was professional from start to finish. We’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone needing a reliable construction partner.

    Hainro Eybers

  • Holistic therapy space fit-out
    Super impressed. I had a very specific vision for the studio. calm tones, soft lighting, hidden storage etc. the craftex team just got it. build was done quicker than I expected and the guys were polite, tidy and actually listened. we had 2 snags on day one but they fixed it before the week was out. worth it for the peace of mind.

    Dariia Shvyryda

  • Made a full refurbishment and redesign of our Central London office. Fantastic work, quality service and reliable people. Can recommend it to everybody

    Nikita Nigai

  • Amazing experience with these guys. I trusted them my apartment in London and Business. They are always accurate, very professional, responsive and neat. They would always advice me right things for my best interest. I had luxury experience with them and I would definitely recommend Craftex to everyone.

    Motush Motushev

  • Could not be HAPPIER with Sviat and the Craftex team, they certainly showed me that they’re the number one office design company in London that we’ve had the pleasure of working with. They gave us a unique design just like we wanted, and we loved the first initial draft of the concept. Also have to give them props for Construction, I gave them a tight timeline as we needed to move our team in ASAP, so they pulled double shifts and I didn’t see a drop in quality. Will be to talking to the team when we move up to our next bigger office. Highly recommended A+++

    Mikhail Burdoev

  • Very professional company. Craftex did brilliant minimalistic design and completely refurbished my apartment to the highest quality.

    Vlad

  • I and my husband are very satisfied with Craftex's service and customer support. We bought a house in Hampstead and wanted to redesign and renovate it. On our initial free consultation with Sviat, we found out that we actually can do loft conversion and rear extension and add value to the property straight away.
    We worked with the Craftex design team to bring our vision to life and deliver planning approvals. At that time guys started stripping out to save time on the construction programme as we wanted to move in ASAP.
    We worked with very experienced project director Konstantin who was responsible for all aspects of project delivery from design to construction with a very good eye on details and customer care.
    We saved a lot of money by having professional advice from the start. Project management and quality at Craftex are at the highest level. Many thanks to Craftex Team.

    Lia Lavryk

  • ISO 9001
  • ISO 14001
  • ISO 45001
  • CHAS
  • Constructionline Gold
  • SafeContractor
  • TrustMark
  • FMB
  • NICEIC
  • NAPIT
  • MCS
  • CSCS
  • Considerate Constructors
  • RICS, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • RIBA, Royal Institute of British Architects
  • ARB, Architects Registration Board
  • Public & Employers' Liability £10M
  • Professional Indemnity £10M
  • ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified

Leaving a lab?

One team, one point of contact from claim to keys. Send the lease, the schedule or just the address for your free dilapidations claim review. We will come back to you the same working day.

Unit 5, 160 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR

info@craftex.co.uk

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