What is a Private Office Space? Your Complete Guide

A private office space is a dedicated, lockable room that belongs exclusively to your business—but sits within a larger shared building. You get your own enclosed workspace with a door that closes (and locks), while sharing amenities like reception, meeting rooms, and kitchen facilities with other tenants.

It's a middle ground between renting an entire building and sitting at a hot desk in an open-plan coworking space. You get privacy without the commitment of a full commercial lease.

Demand for private offices has grown substantially over the past few years. The UK flexible workspace market now exceeds £2 billion, and businesses of all sizes are moving away from both traditional long-term leases and fully open coworking setups. Private offices offer something neither can: dedicated space with built-in flexibility.

This guide covers what private offices include, how they compare to other workspace types, typical costs across the UK, and how to find the right space for your business. It's part of our complete guide to types of office space .

Private Office Space Definition

A private office is an enclosed, lockable workspace rented exclusively to one company within a managed building. Unlike traditional leases where you take an entire floor or building, you're renting a room (or suite of rooms) inside a larger flexible workspace centre.

The key elements:

• Lockable door  – Your space is secure and private
• Dedicated to your company  – No one else uses it
• Inside a shared building  – Shared amenities, reception, and facilities
• Flexible terms  – Usually monthly to 24 months, not 3-10 years
• Fully furnished  – Desks, chairs, and often storage included

You're not taking on a full building commitment, but you're also not sharing an open desk with strangers. For many businesses, this balance of privacy and flexibility is exactly what they need.

Key Features of Private Offices

Lockable, secure space – Your office door locks. Only your team has access. Sensitive documents, equipment, and client information stay protected.

Fully furnished – Most private offices come ready to use with desks, chairs, and storage. Some providers allow furniture customisation for longer commitments.

24/7 access – Unlike some coworking memberships that restrict hours, private office tenants typically get round-the-clock building access.

Professional building locations – Private offices usually sit within business centres in commercial areas, offering a more professional image than home offices or coffee shops.

Shared amenities – Meeting rooms, reception services, kitchens, break areas, and printing facilities are typically shared with other building tenants and included in the price.

Scalability – Need more space? Most providers can move you to a larger office within the same building. Need less? You can usually downsize at your next renewal.

Private Office vs Other Office Types

Private Office vs Serviced Office

These terms often overlap—and sometimes mean the same thing. A serviced office is a type of private office where the provider manages everything (cleaning, reception, utilities) and bundles costs into one monthly fee.

The distinction: "private office" describes the physical space (an enclosed room), while "serviced office" describes the service model (all-inclusive management). Most private offices for rent are serviced offices.

Learn more about serviced offices .

Private Office vs Managed Office

Managed offices are larger spaces (typically for 25+ people) where you get more customisation—your own branding, bespoke fit-out, even dedicated meeting rooms. They're still within a managed building, but feel more like "your" office rather than a room within someone else's.

Private offices suit smaller teams wanting a ready-to-use space. Managed offices suit growing companies wanting their own identity.

See managed office differences .

Private Office vs Coworking/Hot Desks

Hot desks are cheaper but offer no privacy or dedicated space. Private offices cost more but give you a consistent, secure environment.

Compare with hot desks and coworking .

Private Office vs Traditional Lease

Traditional leases make sense for established companies wanting complete control over their space for years. Private offices suit businesses wanting flexibility without long-term commitment.

Learn about traditional office leases .

Private Office vs Shared Office

A shared office means sharing an open-plan space with other companies—essentially a coworking environment. A private office means exclusive use of an enclosed room. The difference is privacy: you either have walls and a door, or you don't.

Understand shared office spaces .

Who Needs Private Office Space?

Professional services firms – Law firms, accountants, consultants, and financial advisers often need private space for client confidentiality. A lockable office protects sensitive documents and enables confidential conversations.

Companies handling confidential information – Healthcare, legal, and financial businesses have regulatory requirements around data protection. Private offices provide the security open-plan spaces can't.

Teams of 2-20 people – Private offices work best for small to medium teams. Larger groups often find managed offices more suitable; individuals may prefer coworking.

Businesses wanting privacy with flexibility – You need dedicated space but aren't ready for a 5-year lease. Private offices let you commit month-to-month or for a year without long-term risk.

Companies needing professional client meeting spaces – If clients visit regularly, a private office projects a more professional image than a hot desk in a busy coworking space.

Private Office Space Costs UK

London Pricing

Regional Cities

Prices Q4 2025. VAT additional.

What's Typically Included

Most private office prices include: rent, business rates, utilities, furniture, internet, reception services, mail handling, cleaning, building security, and access to shared amenities (kitchens, break areas).

Additional Costs to Consider

• Meeting rooms  – Usually included for limited hours; additional usage charged by the hour (£25-75/hour)
• Phone systems  – Basic included; advanced telephony often extra
• Printing  – Usually pay-per-page
• Parking  – Often charged separately in city centres
• Customisation  – Branding, furniture changes, or partitions may incur fees

How to Find Private Office Space for Rent

Online Marketplaces

Platforms like Hubble, Free Office Finder, and Easy Offices aggregate thousands of spaces across the UK. Filter by location, team size, and budget to create shortlists. These platforms typically show photos, pricing, and availability.

Office Brokers

An office broker searches on your behalf, arranges viewings, and negotiates deals. The service is usually free to you—brokers earn commission from providers. A good broker knows the market, has relationships with providers, and can often secure better rates than you'd get going direct.

Find out more about working with an office broker .

Direct Provider Websites

Major providers like Regus, WeWork, Workspace, and The Office Group have their own booking platforms. Going direct lets you build a relationship with the provider, but you'll only see their properties—not the whole market.

What to Look For

• Location  – Transport links, nearby amenities, and neighbourhood suitability for your industry
• Team fit  – Current capacity plus room to grow
• Included services  – What's bundled vs. what's extra
• Building quality  – Visit in person to assess condition, noise levels, and atmosphere
• Other tenants  – Are they similar to your business? This affects networking and culture

Questions to Ask Before Booking

• What's the notice period?
• Can we expand or downsize during our term?
• What meeting room credits are included?
• Is there flexibility on branding or customisation?
• What happens if we need to exit early?

Benefits of Private Office Space

• Privacy and confidentiality  – Enclosed space protects sensitive conversations and information
• Professional image  – A dedicated office impresses clients more than a shared desk
• More affordable than standalone  – Shared amenities reduce costs versus leasing your own building
• Flexibility  – Shorter terms than traditional leases; scale up or down as needed
• Ready to use  – Move in within days, fully furnished and connected
• Shared amenities  – Access to meeting rooms, kitchens, and facilities without managing them
• Networking opportunities  – Other tenants in the building can become clients, partners, or contacts

Drawbacks of Private Office Space

• More expensive than hot desks  – Privacy comes at a premium; expect to pay 2-3x coworking rates
• Less flexibility than coworking  – Most require at least 3-month minimum terms
• Limited customisation  – The space comes largely as-is; major changes aren't permitted
• Size constraints  – If you grow significantly, you may outgrow available offices in the building
• Shared building rules  – You share common areas with other companies and don't control building policies

Private Office Space Providers UK

IWG (Regus, Spaces) – The UK's largest provider with 320+ centres. Regus offers professional private offices across the country; Spaces provides a more creative, coworking-influenced environment.

WeWork – Around 50 UK locations with modern design and community focus. Strong in London, particularly for tech and creative businesses.

The Office Group (TOG) / Fora – Premium London-focused workspaces with design-led interiors and hospitality-style service.

Workspace – 60+ London properties, often in characterful converted industrial buildings. Appeals to creative and media businesses.

Local providers – Beyond the major brands, independent operators offer private offices in most UK cities, often with more personalised service and competitive pricing.

FAQs

How big are private offices? Private offices range from 1-person rooms (around 50-70 sq ft) to suites for 50+ people. Most common are offices for 2-10 people.

What's the minimum term? Typically 1-12 months, with 3-month minimums common. Some providers offer day offices for short-term needs; longer commitments often secure better rates.

Can I brand my private office? Basic branding (signage, logo on door) is usually allowed. More extensive customisation depends on your provider and contract length.

Are meeting rooms included? Most private offices include a monthly allocation of meeting room hours (often 5-20 hours). Beyond that, you pay per hour.

Can I lock my office after hours? Yes. Private offices come with lockable doors, and tenants typically have 24/7 building access with key cards or fobs.

What's the difference between private office and serviced office? A private office is the physical space (enclosed, lockable room). A serviced office describes the service model (all-inclusive management). Most private offices for rent are serviced offices.

Conclusion

Private office space gives you dedicated, lockable workspace without the commitment of a traditional lease. It's ideal for teams of 2-20 people who need privacy, handle confidential information, or want a professional environment for client meetings—but don't want to sign up for 5-10 years.

The trade-off is cost: private offices run 2-3x the price of coworking hot desks. But for many businesses, the privacy, security, and professional image are worth the premium.

Explore all your options in our complete guide to types of office space , or read our guides to serviced offices , managed offices , and coworking spaces .

Need help finding the right space?  Talk to an office broker who can search the market, arrange viewings, and negotiate on your behalf—at no cost to you.

Last updated: February 2026