9 Things to Think About Before Leasing a Warehouse
                     9 Things to Think 
About Before 
Leasing a 
Warehouse 
If you are a business owner looking to rent warehouse space, you must understand 
that not all warehouse spaces are created equal. Preliminary research will save you 
time, money, and disappointment if you choose a warehouse space that does not 
work for you and your company.
Warehouse and industrial space can be used for a variety of purposes, such as 
storage, manufacturing, and distribution. Each Industrial property you consider will 
have its own set of specifications and responsibilities, so make sure you understand 
the facility’s intended use and ask pertinent questions to the landlord and listing 
agent to ensure space meets your needs.
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1. Examine Your Storage 
Consumption.
Some landlords use a specific method for calculating square footage. Check to see if 
they are calculating and what they are including. Ideally, you should only pay for the 
available square feet, which is the actual room you occupy. Some landlords will try 
to include the area beneath the drip lines of the building, while others will measure 
from the outside of the warehouse.
In addition to considering available square footage in a factory, you should also 
consider cubic square footage. The ceiling height comes into play here. Make sure 
you have enough vertical space if you need to stack items, boxes, or pallets. There’s 
no reason to pay to rent space with a high ceiling if you don’t need stacking space.
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2. Planning and Zoning
To ensure urban growth and development, land in a municipality is divided into 
zones. Zones specify which types of businesses and properties are permitted. They 
can be commercial, industrial, or residential in nature.
It is critical to consider the location of your prospective property as well as its 
assigned zone. Industrial lease rates can be lower, but if the warehouse space is to 
be used for retail, the landlord must be able to apply for zoning changes.
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3. Parking Area
Some landlords try to charge tenants for parking lot maintenance (asphalt or 
concrete). Employee parking, deliveries and pickups, overnight parking, and regular 
use are all possible uses for a parking lot. Repairs to the parking lot should be the 
landlord’s responsibility because they are a long-term expense and part of 
determining potential property value.
The parking lot must be sufficiently large to accommodate your company. If your 
business relies on tractor-trailer deliveries, your parking lot must be large enough to 
accommodate these vehicles. If necessary, confirm that trucks and other vehicles 
are permitted to park in the lot overnight.
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4. Heating, Ventilation, and 
Air Conditioning (HVAC)
The majority of warehouses do not have full-building HVAC. Each tenant is 
responsible for installing their own HVAC unit if they choose to have it. In many 
cases, you will be leasing a space that was previously leased by someone else, and 
they will have installed and used an HVAC unit. Because you don’t know if the 
previous tenant maintained the unit properly, try to avoid taking on the 
responsibility of a potentially neglected unit.
Negotiate with the landlord to pay for an HVAC maintenance contract in order to 
keep the existing HVAC unit in good working order. However, if the unit requires 
extensive repairs or replacement, the landlord should be held accountable. Before 
signing the contract, always demand that the landlord have the HVAC units 
inspected, repaired (if necessary), and certified in writing by a certified HVAC 
technician that they are in good working order. 6
5. Operating Costs
The operating costs and whether they will be included in the lease are critical 
components of regular warehousing operations. Consider what your contract covers 
and what it does not cover, such as roof repairs, taxes, insurance, and maintenance. 
As the tenant, you may be liable for some or all of these expenses. You can inquire 
about day-to-day maintenance costs, such as who will be in charge of the lawn and 
garbage collection.
Your primary goal should be to identify potential warehouses that can handle your 
volume while keeping the products secure in the interim. Price should not be the 
first priority, but it will be eventually. When you’ve narrowed your options down to 
a couple or three, compare prices for the services you require.
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6. Electrical Power
Make sure to inquire about the building’s power supply with the landlord to ensure 
that it meets your electrical requirements. Before leasing out the warehouse, make 
sure it has enough electrical outlets. If you plan to use heavy electric vehicles inside 
the factory, ensure that there is enough power for charging and day-to-day 
operations. It is recommended that you hire an electrical engineer or electrician to 
inspect and evaluate any warehouse property for lease. They would know if the 
building has enough amperage and power to prevent extreme events like a 
transformer blowing up.
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7. Loading Docks
Make sure to inquire about the building’s power supply with the landlord to ensure 
that it meets your electrical requirements. Before leasing out the warehouse, make 
sure it has enough electrical outlets. If you plan to use heavy electric vehicles inside 
the factory, ensure that there is enough power for charging and day-to-day 
operations. It is recommended that you hire an electrical engineer or electrician to 
inspect and evaluate any warehouse property for lease. They would know if the 
building has enough amperage and power to prevent extreme events like a 
transformer blowing up.
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Open- The truck is parked in front of an exposed open dock area. They are also 
more difficult to manage in bad weather.
Depressed- These docks have an inclined driveway, which necessitates extra caution 
on the part of the driver in order to avoid damaging the house.
Flush- These seem to be the most popular docks, with the loading dock opening 
flush with the structure. Ensure that there is a dock bumper outside to protect the 
building from damage during docking.
Enclosed- A shell protects these docks from the elements. These typically require 
ventilation to prevent dangerous levels of automotive fumes from accumulating.
Sawtooth pattern- In buildings with limited road space, trucks may be required to 
park at a 45-degree angle to the dock, resulting in a sawtooth pattern. This usually 
necessitates additional warehouse space but has the added benefit of aligning the 
trucks for easy exit.
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8. Place(Location)
Keep your location in mind when deciding where to lease warehouse space. Before 
signing a warehouse contract, conduct a thorough investigation of the surrounding 
area. Is the warehouse easily accessible from major highways? Are there any 
restaurants or service businesses nearby that your employees could visit? Is it legal 
for your company to operate a warehouse in the area? You should also consider 
how your employees will get to the new location, whether by public transportation 
or accessible parking. Understanding the existing commercial real estate market 
dynamics in the area will help you determine whether proposed rents are 
reasonable.
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9. Safety
This may be the most important factor to consider when renting warehouse space. 
If you’re storing a lot of valuable items in the warehouse, make sure they’re secure. 
You will lose a lot of money if your warehouse is broken into and your goods are 
stolen. Is the area around the warehouse fenced in, and do you need a code to 
enter? This is an important first step in security because a fence would deter many 
thieves from attempting to enter the warehouse. You can also consult with your 
landlord about installing electrical fencing for your warehouse if necessary. Is there 
any oversight? Guard patrols on a daily basis will also be a significant deterrent to 
criminals.
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Conclusion — Plan ahead of 
time before leasing a 
wAlthoaugrh eopehrationgu a wsareho use pdiffaers cfroem o.perating a standard 
warehouse and office for rent Dubai, there is some overlap. Simple amenities such 
as men’s and women’s restrooms, break areas, employee parking, and access to 
public transportation are all important considerations. You should also look into the 
availability of high-speed internet at that location, in case your warehouse 
management software (WMS) or inventory management system (such as Digital 
Warehouse) requires it.
Then there are warehouse-specific factors to consider, such as the space’s ability to 
handle a wide range of goods and your business type. If your company 
manufactures perishable goods that require refrigeration or generates hazardous 
waste, you can raise these concerns before signing the lease contract. You’ll need a 
plan in place for safely storing and disposing of any raw materials or byproducts.
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rehouse-120139fad81e 13
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