Premises Refurbishment Finance

Premises refurbishment finance helps offices, shops, clinics, salons, gyms and workshops modernise their space, spreading the cost of fittings, lighting, heating, furniture and equipment so the work can start now.

Fittings, lighting and HVAC
Offices, shops, clinics, workshops
From £1,000 with no upper limit

Cost up my refurbishment Talk through the project

Team in hard hats and hi vis reviewing plans in an office during a premises refurbishment

What premises refurbishment finance can cover

Most refurbishments mix equipment that lenders can take as security with building work that they cannot. We split the project so each part goes to the right type of funding. For hospitality venues and retail units, our shop, bar and restaurant fit outs page goes into more detail.

Lighting upgrades

LED panels, track lighting, emergency lighting and controls that cut running costs.

LED lighting finance

Heating and air conditioning

Air conditioning, heat pumps, ventilation and heating controls for a comfortable space.

Air conditioning finance

Furniture and fittings

Desks, seating, storage, counters and reception areas, from one supplier or several.

Office furniture finance

Partitions and meeting rooms

Demountable glass and stud partitions, acoustic pods and meeting room fit out.

Kitchens and washrooms

Staff kitchens, tea points, washroom fittings and hand dryers for staff and customers.

IT, AV and telecoms

Structured cabling, screens, meeting room AV and phone systems installed during the works.

Security and access

CCTV, intruder alarms and door access control fitted as part of the new layout.

Flooring and finishes

Flooring, ceilings and decoration, usually funded through a business loan alongside the equipment.

Bright, newly finished open plan office space with large windows and city views

Businesses that use refurbishment finance

A tired space can hold back sales, staff retention and even insurance. Office refurbishment finance and its equivalents for other premises let owners improve the building without waiting years to save.

Offices and agencies

New layouts, meeting rooms and furniture.

Shops and showrooms

Displays, lighting and counters that sell.

Clinics and practices

Treatment rooms and patient areas.

Salons and studios

Stations, basins and lighting for clients.

Gyms and leisure

Changing rooms, flooring and air handling.

Workshops and units

Lighting, heating and welfare facilities.

Ways to fund a premises refurbishment

Equipment and fittings that can be removed are usually funded on a lease or hire purchase, while fixed building work tends to need a loan. Larger structural changes may also need sign off, and GOV.UK explains when work needs building regulations approval.

Finance lease

Fixed rentals for lighting, air conditioning, IT and furniture, with rentals usually allowable against profit.

Best for equipment and fittings that could be removed.

How a finance lease works

Hire purchase

Pay in instalments and own the fittings and equipment once the final payment is made.

Best for items you will keep for the life of the space.

How hire purchase works

Asset refinance

Raise money against equipment you already own to help pay for the building work itself.

Best for owners funding the non equipment costs.

How asset refinance works

How we fund a refurbishment

Refurbishments often run to a tight programme, so we agree funding for each part of the premises refurbishment before the contractors start on site.

Step 1

Send the schedule

Share the contractor's quote or schedule of works, plus any separate supplier quotes.

Step 2

We split the costs

We separate equipment from building work so each part goes to suitable lenders.

Step 3

Approve and sign

You choose the offers that suit your cash flow and sign online.

Step 4

Works go ahead

Suppliers are paid as agreed, and the space reopens without draining your reserves.

Example: an office refurbishment for a growing team

A professional services firm has outgrown its layout. It wants new LED lighting, air conditioning, glass meeting rooms, furniture for twenty people and updated meeting room screens, with a contractor handling the flooring and decoration.

The equipment and fittings are spread over five years on a lease, and the flooring and decoration go on a business loan, so the premises refurbishment is finished in one go. Firms turned down elsewhere may find our guide to why the bank said no helpful.

Lease rentals are often allowable for tax, as our tax relief page explains, and smarter cash flow planning shows how spreading costs protects working capital.

See the monthly figures

Typical office refurbishment

LED lighting and controls£14,000

Air conditioning£26,000

Glass partitions and meeting rooms£22,000

Furniture for twenty staff£24,000

Meeting room AV and screens£9,000

Flooring and decoration£15,000

Total funded£110,000

Figures are illustrative only. Actual costs and monthly payments depend on the lender, the specification and the term.

Businesses we helped to open and refresh

Owners who used CLS to fund the fittings and equipment behind a new or improved space.

Max XP

John Taggart funded coffee, catering, furniture and gaming equipment to open his venue.

Read the case study

Why Not Bar and Lounge

A venue that funded bar and catering equipment.

Read the case study

Premises refurbishment finance questions

General questions about deposits, terms and eligibility are answered in our full FAQs.

Useful downloads

Premises refurbishment brochure Benefits of leasing Leasing FAQs

Need funding for the building work too? Compare unsecured business loans with leasing.

Can building work be included in refurbishment finance?

Fixed works such as plastering, flooring and decoration usually cannot be leased, because a lender cannot take them back. They are normally funded with secured business loans or unsecured lending alongside the equipment.

Do I need to own the building?

No. Tenants refurbish premises all the time. Lenders will look at the length of your lease and how long you have been trading.

Can I use several contractors and suppliers?

Yes. We can fund quotes from different suppliers and pay each one as agreed, so you keep the contractors you trust.

Are business refurbishment loans available to new businesses?

Some lenders support new businesses, particularly with relevant experience and a clear plan. Our start up funding page explains what helps an application.

Is there tax relief on refurbishment costs?

Equipment and some fixtures can qualify for capital allowances, while building work is treated differently. GOV.UK sets out the rules on capital allowances, and your accountant can confirm what applies.

How much can I borrow for a premises refurbishment?

Finance starts at £1,000 with no upper limit. The amount depends on the equipment involved, your trading history and the lenders' view of the project.

Ready to refresh your premises?

Send us the schedule of works or the quotes you have so far.

We will put together premises refurbishment finance and reply within 24 hours.

Get started Call 0191 250 1550