A commercial office can look move-in ready while still requiring months of design, electrical, networking and compliance work. For tenants assessing Salt Lake Sector V, New Town or other Kolkata business locations, the right question is not simply the quoted rent. It is **what the landlord delivers, when the office becomes usable and what happens when the lease ends**.
Define the precise handover condition
Record whether the premises are delivered as bare shell, warm shell, semi-furnished or fully fitted. These labels are not universal specifications. The lease or annexure should list flooring, ceiling, HVAC provisions, washrooms, wiring, distribution boards, fire systems, data points, lighting and furniture. Prepare a handover inventory, meter readings and photographs signed by both parties. Do not rely on an unsigned verbal promise that a facility will be installed later.
Negotiate fit-out time separately from rent
A tenant may need several weeks for design approvals, contractors, partitions and networking. Define the possession date, fit-out commencement date, rent commencement date and maintenance-charge commencement date. A so-called rent-free period may still carry electricity, parking or common-area charges. Specify who bears delays from unavailable lifts, denied access, pending building approvals or late delivery of landlord works. A clear schedule reduces disputes and business interruption.
Check building services and permitted occupancy
Ask for available electrical load, backup arrangements, internet providers, HVAC capacity, floor loading where relevant, water and washroom facilities, lift service hours and visitor access. Confirm that the premises have the requisite lawful use for your business activity. Applicable fire and other permissions depend on the building and proposed interior changes. An architect or specialist should review changes affecting fire exits, sprinklers, air conditioning or building systems.
Clarify cash flow beyond base rent
Create a schedule for security deposit, rent escalation, common-area maintenance, taxes allocated under the lease, parking, utilities, signage, brokerage and legal expenses. Check whether any payment is subject to GST or tax withholding under applicable rules. Ask who is responsible for periodic HVAC maintenance, replacement of fittings and expensive building-system repairs. Net operating cost is often more important than the headline per-square-foot rent.
Build a practical exit and reinstatement clause
The agreement should define permitted alterations, ownership of added fittings, required repainting or removal at exit, inspection procedure and the deposit refund mechanism. If the tenant must restore the premises to the original condition, cost the obligation before signing. Set written procedures for access cards, keys, equipment inventories and handover photographs. Review lock-in, notice, renewal and dispute-resolution provisions with a lawyer.
