Office & IT Relocation in London

The duration of an office move depends on size, but the working principle is the same for most businesses: keep operational downtime as close to zero as possible. A small office can often be moved over a single evening or weekend, while a large or multi-floor site may need several phases. Downtime is reduced through planning rather than speed alone. A written move plan sequences the work so that IT is the last thing disconnected at the old site and the first thing reconnected at the new one, which is where lost time usually hides. Labelling everything by desk and department means teams find their equipment immediately instead of searching through unmarked boxes. Running the physical move out of hours means staff leave one office on Friday and arrive at a working one on Monday. Clear responsibilities on your side, such as who backs up systems and who signs off access, also prevent delays. Our moving checklist sets out a timeline that helps a business prepare in the right order.

Yes, IT relocation is a core part of a commercial move, and it is the part that needs the most care. It covers workstations, monitors and peripherals, network hardware such as switches and routers, communications equipment, and where present, servers and data room infrastructure. The process is methodical: hardware is shut down in a controlled sequence, disconnected, and cabling is logged so it can be rebuilt exactly at the new site. Items are packed by hand in appropriate materials rather than loose in crates, because vibration and static are real risks for electronics in transit. At the destination, equipment is reconnected, powered up and checked before the job is signed off. Sensitive or business-critical hardware, particularly servers, is usually scheduled as its own phase so it can be handled without pressure. Responsibility for data backups normally stays with the client or their IT provider, which is worth agreeing in the plan. This service can be booked alongside a full office move or as a standalone IT relocation.

Yes, and for most businesses it is the preferred option. Moving in the evening, overnight or across a weekend means the relocation happens while the office is empty and trading has stopped, so staff return to a space that is already set up. This is usually the single biggest factor in reducing lost working time. Out-of-hours moves do require coordination beyond the move itself: many commercial buildings restrict access times, require a booked goods lift, and need security or building management to authorise entry, all of which are arranged in advance as part of the plan. Parking and loading permissions in London also have to be organised ahead, since a bay suspension can take several working days to approve. Because these moves fall outside standard hours, they are scheduled carefully rather than at short notice. The trade-off is straightforward: a little more planning in exchange for a business that barely feels the disruption. Our London parking and bay suspension guide explains the access side in detail.

With a professional mover, office contents are normally protected in transit, but cover has limits and conditions, so the terms are worth understanding. The industry standard is Goods in Transit insurance, which protects items while they are being carried, together with CMR cover for any international road transport. This applies to furniture and to IT hardware alike. It is important to separate two things: physical hardware and the data on it. Transit insurance covers damage to or loss of the equipment itself, but the information stored on servers and computers is a separate responsibility, which is why backing up data before the move should sit with the client or their IT provider. Informal operators sometimes carry no cover at all, a real risk when expensive equipment is involved. Before booking, it is reasonable to ask a mover to confirm their insurance in writing and to read the policy. EUROBR publishes its cover openly, and the paperwork behind international transport is explained on the CMR regulations page.

Good preparation is what keeps an office move on schedule. A few things make the biggest difference. First, appoint a single internal point of contact who can make decisions and coordinate with the move team, which prevents conflicting instructions on the day. Second, confirm the dates and access at both buildings early, including lease handover, lift bookings and security, since these often have lead times. Third, ensure IT systems are backed up before anything is disconnected, as transit insurance covers hardware but not the data on it. Fourth, ask staff to clear and label their own desks and personal items, which speeds up both packing and unpacking. Finally, decide what is moving and what is being disposed of or recycled, so old furniture and equipment are not transported unnecessarily. Agreeing a floor plan for the new office in advance also means furniture and IT go straight to the right place. Our moving checklist provides a step-by-step timeline a business can follow in the weeks before the move.