After-Hours Office Rental Fees: What You Need to Know
One of the costs that many businesses focus on when leasing office space is after-hours fees. Some specific business models, especially those with frequent overtime or those operating in international time zones, may require their employees to work outside regular hours. In such cases, the factor of after-hours work becomes particularly important.
Table of Contents
1. What is After-Hours Rental Fee?
The after-hours fee is an additional charge applied when a company leases office space beyond the building’s designated working hours.
Most office buildings have standard business hours from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturdays. These working hours are generally aligned with the labor laws.
However, depending on the building’s policies, the working hours may vary, and this is clearly stated in the lease agreement. If a business operates outside these regular hours, it is considered after-hours work, and tenants must pay an additional fee to the building owner.
2. How is the After-Hours Fee Calculated?
The after-hours fee for office buildings in classes A, B, and C generally includes costs such as electricity, cleaning, parking, and salaries for building staff working during off-hours.
The calculation method for the after-hours fee can vary depending on the building and may be done in the following ways:
- By Office
- By Leased Area
- By Equipment Used
2.1 By Office:
This is a common method where the after-hours fee is predetermined in the contract for each office.
Example: In the lease agreement, the after-hours fee for an office is fixed at VND 150,000 per office per hour.
2.2 By Leased Area:
This calculation method is based on the size of the leased space. The building charges an after-hours fee according to the area the company leases.
Example: The after-hours fee is calculated at USD 0.05 per square meter per hour. If a company leases 250 m² and works for 3 additional hours, the after-hours cost would be:
USD 0.05 x 250 m² x 3 hours = USD 37.5.
The fee may vary depending on the leased area, with different rates negotiated or set for various lease sizes.
Example:
- For leased areas less than 250 m², the after-hours fee is USD 0.05 per m² per hour.
- For leased areas over 250 m², the after-hours fee is USD 0.75 per m² per hour.
2.3 By Equipment Used:
Some buildings calculate after-hours fees based on the equipment used at the office, such as air conditioning (specifically the FCU or Fan Coil Unit).
Example: The fee for each air conditioning unit could be USD 10 per FCU per hour.
This method benefits companies that only occasionally work outside regular hours since they are not charged extra unless they require continuous use of equipment, such as 24/7 operations.
Currently, some buildings do not charge after-hours fees based on their policies or negotiated agreements. Therefore, many companies can work late into the evening or even on weekends without additional fees.
In some cases, if the office works after hours without using air conditioning, no extra charge may apply.
3. Specific After-Hours Fee Features in Class A, B, and C Buildings
3.1 For Class A and B Buildings:
Nearly all office spaces in Class A and B buildings apply after-hours fees. To maintain high standards, these buildings invest in central air conditioning, ventilation, and lighting systems for entire floors or office areas, rather than individual units. As such, when a company operates outside regular hours, all of the energy consumption across the floor is necessary to maintain the office area. Therefore, after-hours fees are essential for covering these costs.
3.2 For Class C Buildings:
Class C office spaces may or may not apply after-hours fees. For smaller buildings, the owner may install individual air conditioning units (wall-mounted) and separate electric meters for each office. In this case, businesses only pay for the additional electricity consumption when working outside regular hours.
In today’s competitive office rental market, after-hours fees can often be negotiated and adjusted in the lease agreement. By reducing these additional costs, companies can save significantly on their office rental expenses.
With this basic understanding of after-hours fees, Maison Office hopes businesses can make informed decisions about choosing office buildings and negotiating the most cost-effective terms for their rental contracts, ultimately reducing office leasing expenses.
See more: How to find office in Vietnam: Everything you need to know
