Dilapidations & End-of-Lease Reinstatement in Edinburgh & The Lothians
When a commercial lease ends, you may be required to return the space to an agreed condition — often removing tenant alterations, making good, and leaving the unit ready for handover or re-letting. This process is commonly referred to as dilapidations and end-of-lease reinstatement.
At Fit Out Edinburgh, we help tenants and landlords across Edinburgh and the Lothians complete reinstatement works efficiently, with clear scope and tidy delivery — so you can hand the unit back with confidence and avoid last-minute issues.
What are dilapidations?
Dilapidations are typically claims or required works relating to the condition of a leased property. They may include repairs, removal of alterations, and restoring parts of the unit to the condition required by the lease agreement.
Reinstatement is the practical “doing” side — the work on site to return the space to the agreed standard for handover.
What reinstatement works can include
End-of-lease works vary by unit and lease terms, but commonly include:
- Commercial strip-out of non-structural elements (partitions, ceilings, old joinery, counters)
- Removing signage, branding, feature finishes and tenant-specific alterations
- Lifting and removing flooring finishes where required
- Making good walls, ceilings and floors after removals
- Repainting / decorating to a clean, neutral standard
- Minor repairs and remedial works (damage, wear-and-tear areas)
- Reinstating basic layouts (where required)
- Final clean and site clearance for handover
If you have a schedule of dilapidations or landlord requirements, we can work directly from that — and if you don’t, we can start with a site visit and help define what’s needed.
Helping you avoid last-minute surprises
Dilapidations can get stressful when deadlines are tight and multiple trades need coordinating. Our goal is to keep it straightforward:
- We define the scope clearly so you know what’s included
- We work to a practical programme aligned with handover dates
- We keep the site controlled and tidy so progress stays predictable
We finish with snagging and checks so the unit is ready to return
Who we help
This service is ideal for:
Tenants moving out of offices, retail units, hospitality venues or gyms
Landlords/agents preparing units for the next occupier
Businesses relocating and needing a clean exit from the existing premises
Companies that have installed partitions, joinery, branding or specialist fit-out elements that now need removed
Our process
Site visit & lease requirements
We review the space and understand what condition it needs to be returned in.
Agree scope & programme
Clear list of works, timescales, and practical plan for delivery.
Deliver strip-out and making good
Controlled removal, repairs, decoration and reinstatement.
Snagging, clean & handover ready
Final checks and tidy finish so you can hand back the keys confidently.
Why Fit Out Edinburgh
End-to-end capability
strip-out, making good, repairs and finishing
Programme-led delivery
aligned to your move-out deadlines
Clear scope
less back-and-forth, fewer surprises
Commercial experience
practical, compliant work in occupied and vacant buildings
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work from a dilapidations schedule?
Yes — if you have a schedule or landlord requirements, we can price and deliver against it.
Can you work to a tight deadline?
Often, yes. The earlier we see the space, the easier it is to programme the works around your handover date.
Do you provide strip-out and waste removal?
Yes — we can handle the strip-out, clearance and leaving the unit clean and ready for return.
Ready to Transform Your Space?
Email : hello@fitoutedinburgh.co.uk