Cat A Fit Out in London: What’s Included and What It Costs (2026)

Cat A+ (sometimes called plug and play) is a Cat A floor with some Cat B elements added, such as meeting rooms, kitchens and furniture, so that a tenant can move in quickly.

“Cat A” is one of the most common terms in London office property, and one of the most misunderstood. This guide explains exactly what a Cat A fit-out usually includes, what it costs in London in 2026, how Cat A+ (“plug and play”) differs, and what it means for you as a tenant or landlord.

What does a Cat A fit-out include?

There is no legal definition, so always check the specification, but a London Cat A floor typically has:

• Raised access floors for power and data cabling.
• Suspended ceilings, often with exposed-services alternatives in newer buildings.
• General lighting to office standards.
• Air conditioning or other heating, cooling and ventilation distribution to the floor.
• Fire detection and alarm systems and emergency lighting, plus sprinklers where the building has them.
• Finished toilets, lift lobbies and common parts, and decorated walls and columns.

What Cat A does not include is anything specific to how your business works: partitions, meeting rooms, kitchens and breakout areas, floor finishes in many cases, furniture, IT and AV, and branding. Those make up a Cat B fit-out.

How much does a Cat A fit-out cost in London?

Source: Hampstead Renovations, London Office Fit-Out Cost Index Q1 2026, published 15 April 2026 (hampsteadrenovations.co.uk), checked 4 October 2026. Ranges are per sq ft of net internal area and exclude VAT; they are benchmarks, not quotes.

As illustrative arithmetic, a 5,000 sq ft floor at £60–£95 per sq ft would cost roughly £300,000–£475,000 for Cat A before VAT and fees, and £475,000–£700,000 at Cat A+ rates. Costs vary with the building’s condition, the services strategy, access and logistics, and estate rules such as out-of-hours working in the City or at Canary Wharf.

Cat A+ and plug-and-play offices

Smaller occupiers increasingly want to move straight in without managing a fit-out. Landlords respond with “Cat A+” or “plug and play” floors that add basic meeting rooms, a kitchen, flooring and furniture to the Cat A shell. The rent is usually higher, but the tenant avoids upfront capital costs and a long programme. It suits businesses taking shorter leases or small floors.

Who pays for Cat A?

Traditionally the landlord delivers Cat A before letting the space, and the tenant pays for Cat B. On a lease renewal or when a tenant takes an older floor, the position is negotiable: a landlord might offer a capital contribution or rent-free period instead of doing works itself. If you are taking space, ask for the Cat A specification in writing, its age and condition, and whether any warranties pass to you.

The Cat A waste problem

A common complaint in London is that brand-new Cat A elements, especially ceilings and lighting, are ripped out soon after by the incoming tenant’s Cat B fit-out. That wastes money and carbon. If you are agreeing a pre-let, it is worth discussing whether the landlord can leave out elements you will not keep, or deliver a combined Cat A and Cat B design. The same cost index notes that reusing sound existing partitions, ceilings and M&E can cut fit-out cost by 25–40%.

Timescales

A Cat A refurbishment of a single floor often runs for several weeks to a few months on site, depending on the condition of the existing services, lead times for plant and the building’s working-hours rules. Allow extra time for design, approvals and procurement.

Compliance and approvals

Cat A works often affect fire safety, ventilation and energy performance, so building control approval is usually needed, and CDM 2015 applies. Tenants carrying out works also need the landlord’s licence for alterations. Our Cat A vs Cat B guide explains how the two stages fit together, and our dilapidations guide covers what you may have to reinstate at the end of a lease.

Get Cat A or Cat B quotes

Whether you are a landlord upgrading a floor or a tenant planning a fit-out, you can request quotes and we will pass your brief to one vetted London contractor. Read more about office fit out in London.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Facts and prices in this guide come from the following sources (checked 4 October 2026):

• hampsteadrenovations.co.uk (hampsteadrenovations.co.uk)

Related guides

• Office Fit Out Cost per Sq Ft in London (2026)
• Cat A vs Cat B Fit Out: What’s the Difference?
• How to Choose an Office Fit Out Company in London (2026)
• Office Dilapidations in London: A Tenant’s Guide
• Office fit-out and refurbishment across London: areas we cover

This guide is general information for office occupiers, not professional cost, legal or construction advice. Costs are published benchmarks and will vary with your building, specification and programme. Always get a detailed quote and take professional advice on your lease and statutory duties.