MKB Juristen drafts custom legal documents
It is best not to cobble together or copy important contracts, terms and conditions, and other legal documents yourself. We help entrepreneurs on a budget with customized legal solutions, clear costs upfront, and practical explanations.
- Custom contracts, terms and conditions, and legal documents
- Budget-friendly and clear about the costs upfront
- Request a free consultation or a no-obligation quote
Having an office space lease agreement drafted by a specialized SME lawyer typically costs between 400 and 1,500 euros, depending on the complexity and whether it concerns a single unit or a larger building with multiple tenants. You will then receive a tailor-made contract that takes into account the regime of Article 7:230a of the Dutch Civil Code, in which the duration, termination, and maintenance arrangements are particularly carefully defined. Because the law offers little protection regarding office space, the quality of the contract is the determining factor.
The short answer
- Costs: approximately 400 to 1,500 euros with an SME lawyer, depending on the complexity.
- Lead time: usually a few working days to two weeks.
- What you get: a tailor-made contract based on or alongside the ROZ office space model.
- Why: with Section 230a spaces, the law does not cover errors, so the contract takes precedence.
- When necessary: for long terms, investments, deviations from the ROZ model, or unclear service charges.
Having an office space lease drawn up: what does it cost?
The price depends on the complexity. A simple addition to the ROZ model for a single office unit often costs around 400 to 700 euros. A tailor-made contract for a larger property, with multiple tenants, service charge agreements, and a break option, rises to 1,000 to 1,500 euros. If negotiations with the counterparty are involved and multiple versions are required, additional time is added.
Some lawyers work with a fixed rate per contract, others on an hourly basis. Ask for a quote in advance and whether a review meeting and one round of revisions are included in the price. For an SME owner, a fixed price is usually more convenient, as you know exactly what to expect beforehand.
How does the process work?
- Intake: you provide the details regarding the property, the rental price, the desired duration, and any special features.
- Concept: the legal expert drafts a custom contract, usually based on the ROZ model.
- Discussion: you go through the draft and discuss the choices regarding term, termination, and maintenance.
- Adjustment: any changes are processed, often in a single correction round.
- Signature: both parties sign, supplemented by an inventory of the leased property.
When does it really pay off?
Outsourcing pays off, especially when money or flexibility is at stake. A long term without a break option can tie you to unnecessary capacity for years. An unfavorable maintenance clause can result in unexpected bills. And deviations from the ROZ model, for example regarding service costs or delivery, are often to the advantage of the party that drafted them. With Section 230a capacity, the law does not correct this.
An IT company in Eindhoven wanted to rent half a floor and invested heavily in server room and cabling. The draft contract stipulated that all installed facilities had to be removed upon departure and the space had to be returned to its original condition. A lawyer negotiated a takeover arrangement ensuring the company would not bear tens of thousands of euros in repair costs upon leaving. The savings amounted to many times the fee.
What does a lawyer look for?
- Classification: does the space truly fall under 230a, or does the 290-business premises regime threaten?
- Duration and break option: does the duration fit your business plans?
- Maintenance: which items are the responsibility of the tenant and are they reasonable?
- Service charges: is the breakdown transparent and is billing based on actual consumption?
- Delivery: do you need to remove investments or can they remain?
- Certainty: can the requested guarantee be reasonably and clearly disclosed?
Honest recommendation
If it concerns a single office unit at a market-rate price based on a standard ROZ model, with clear terms and a customary distribution of maintenance, you do not need to have anything drawn up. You can fill in the model yourself, create a condition report, and sign it. For a simple situation, that is perfectly fine and saves you the costs.
Have the contract drawn up or reviewed as soon as interests are at stake: a long term, substantial investments, multiple tenants, deviations from the ROZ model, or unclear service charges. The cost of a few hundred euros does not outweigh the risk of being stuck with an unfavorable contract for years or an unexpected repair bill. Always ask for a fixed price in advance.
Want to know more? View the office space lease agreement, first read what an office space lease agreement is, or discover how drafting an office space lease agreement .
Frequently Asked Questions
With a specialized SME lawyer, typically 400 to 1,500 euros. A simple supplement to the ROZ model is cheaper; a tailored contract for a larger property with multiple tenants and negotiations is more expensive. Ask for a fixed price in advance.
Usually a few working days to two weeks. The turnaround time depends mainly on how quickly you provide the data and whether negotiations are taking place with the counterparty. A simple contract can be ready within a few days.
For a simple office unit based on a standard ROZ model, that works perfectly fine. However, have it drawn up as soon as interests are at stake, such as a long term, investments, or deviations from the model. With Section 230a space, the law does not cover errors.
The details of both parties, a description of the property including surface area, the rental price, the desired term and notice period, and any special features such as investments or service charges. The more complete the input, the faster the draft will be ready.
That varies by lawyer. Often, a consultation and one round of revisions are included. Check this in advance, along with whether extra versions or negotiations with the opposing party are included in the fee.
Regarding the classification of the space, the term and break option, the distribution of maintenance, the service charges, the obligation to deliver, and the security required. It is precisely these points that determine your legal position regarding a 230a space, because the law provides little detail.
With a small, balanced contract, usually not. For investments, a long term, or a delivery obligation that can be costly, an inspection costing a few hundred euros often pays for itself handsomely.
