Yes. In most commercial leases, you can hire a specialist contractor to manage your lease make good-including repairs, reinstatement works, and professional cleaning-so you can return the space in the condition required by your lease and reduce the risk of disputes with the landlord.
This article explains what a make good typically involves, when cleaning is included, and how to choose the right provider.
What is “lease make good”?
A lease make good (also called end-of-lease reinstatement) is the work required to restore a commercial tenancy to the condition set out in your lease. That may mean returning the space to:
- its original “base build” condition, or
- the condition documented at lease commencement, or
- another agreed state in your make good clause.
Make good requirements vary widely, so the first step is always to review the lease and condition report.
Does lease make good include repairs and cleaning?
Often, yes-but it depends on your scope and who you appoint.
Typical “repairs” tasks can include:
- patching and repainting walls
- repairing damaged surfaces (doors, skirting, fittings)
- replacing or repairing flooring as required
- removing signage, fixings, and tenant-installed items
- making good penetrations and minor building fabric repairs
Cleaning may include:
- general commercial clean (floors, surfaces, kitchenettes)
- detailed clean after demolition/stripout dust
- window/glass clean
- carpet steam cleaning (if required)
- waste removal and final presentation clean for handover
In many cases, cleaning is the final step after repairs and reinstatement work-because construction dust and patching debris can make “early” cleaning ineffective.
Can one contractor handle both repairs and cleaning?
Yes-many businesses prefer a single provider to coordinate the full make good scope, including cleaning. The advantage is simpler scheduling and fewer handovers between trades.
That said, there are two common delivery models:
1) One contractor coordinates everything (recommended for most tenancies)
- The make good contractor manages repairs/reinstatement and organises cleaning at the end.
- You get one programme, one point of accountability, and a clearer handover.
2) Split contractors (repairs with one provider, cleaning with another)
- This can work for very small scopes.
- It can also create risk if timing slips-cleaning is typically dependent on repairs being complete.
If your make good includes office stripout/defit, services changes, or multiple trades, a coordinated approach usually reduces delays.
What to check before hiring a make good company
To avoid surprises, confirm the following upfront:
1) Lease obligations and condition documentation
Ask: Will you review the make good clause and interpret the scope?
A good contractor will clarify what’s required vs what’s optional.
2) Scope clarity (repairs vs reinstatement vs cleaning)
Ask: Is cleaning included? If so, what level-general or detailed handover clean?
Get it written into the scope.
3) Programme and handover deadline
Make good projects are often time-sensitive. Ask:
- start date availability
- lead times for materials
- realistic completion window
- whether weekend/after-hours work is possible if needed
4) Waste removal and disposal
Confirm:
- skip bins / waste runs included
- responsible disposal (and any special waste handling if relevant)
5) Practical completion and sign-off support
Ask: Do you support landlord/agent inspections and rectifications if needed?
This can be valuable if the landlord requests minor touch-ups.
What if I only need cleaning (no repairs)?
If your lease requires only a professional clean (and no reinstatement works), you can hire a commercial cleaning company directly. However, many “clean-only” handovers still involve minor patching or paint touch-ups-so it’s worth confirming whether repairs are required before booking a cleaner.
What about industrial or warehouse make good?
Industrial and warehouse tenancies often have additional scope beyond a standard commercial make good. This can include:
- concrete floor repairs (oil staining, tyre marks, surface damage, crack repairs)
- racking and mezzanine removal (including anchor removal and concrete reinstatement)
- warehouse-scale cleaning (high-bay dusting, pressure washing, floor scrubbing)
- removal of tenant-installed fitout (offices, partitions, services)
- reinstatement of loading dock areas and yard surfaces
Industrial make good contractors are experienced with these scopes and can manage specialist subcontractors (concrete specialists, pressure washing, hydraulic racking removal) within a single managed programme.
How do I get the scope right?
The scope of your make good is driven by your lease, not by industry standard. Before engaging any contractor:
- read your make good clause carefully
- review any condition report or entry photos from lease commencement
- identify what was installed during your tenancy (and what must be removed)
- confirm the required “return standard” with your landlord or asset manager
Once scope is clear, a specialist make good contractor can provide a realistic programme and quote.
How NMGS can help with lease make good works
NMGS delivers commercial make good and end-of-lease reinstatement works, coordinating the practical steps needed to return the tenancy for handover-typically including:
- scope confirmation based on the lease requirement
- repairs and reinstatement works (including office stripout/defit where required)
- trade coordination and site management
- a final handover-ready clean (either in-scope or coordinated as the final step)
If you share your lease clause (or a summary), your site location, and your handover date, NMGS can help you clarify the scope and plan a clean, realistic programme.
Quick checklist: what to send your contractor
To get an accurate scope quickly, provide:
- the make good clause (or lease extract)
- any condition report or photos
- your handover date and access constraints
- notes on tenant works completed during the lease (partitions, signage, services changes)
- any case build documentation or any works that have been completed during the lease.