Office Defit: What It Involves and What to Expect
An office defit removes a tenant's fit-out and reinstates the space, typically at lease end. Here is what the process actually covers, step by step.
An office defit (also written de-fit) is the removal of a tenant's fit-out from a commercial tenancy, most often carried out at the end of a lease to return the space to base building condition. It is the physical project version of the 'make good' obligation your lease describes: the defit is the work, make good is the requirement to do it.
What's typically removed in a defit
- Non-structural partitions and internal walls.
- Suspended ceilings and any tenant-installed ceiling components.
- Carpets, vinyl and tile flooring.
- Cabling, data points and IT infrastructure the tenant installed.
- Kitchenettes, joinery and branded fixtures.
The reinstatement phase
Once removal is done, the reinstatement phase fills and patches all holes and penetrations left behind, re-plasters walls and ceilings where needed, and repaints all affected surfaces. This is the step landlords check most closely at final inspection, since a rushed patch job is the most common reason a make good gets rejected and a bank guarantee held back.
A typical defit sequence
- Lease review and scope definition against the make good clause.
- Engage specialists and secure any required documentation (asbestos register, building approvals).
- Decommission services (power, data, fire systems) safely.
- Removal and demolition of the fit-out.
- Waste management and recycling of removed materials.
- Reinstatement and repair (patch, plaster, repaint).
- Final cleaning and a compliance check.
- Pre-handover walkthrough and final inspection with the landlord.
What it costs
Defit and strip out costs are priced per square metre and vary by scope and city. See the full cited breakdown on our cost benchmarks page.
Make good and defit cost benchmarks ยท Office strip out process and timeline
Frequently asked questions
Is a defit the same as a strip out?
They overlap heavily and are often used interchangeably. Strip out usually refers to the physical demolition and removal work; defit is the broader term for the whole project, including reinstatement and handover.
Do I need council approval for an office defit?
Usually not for interior, non-structural work, but always confirm with your building's property manager and your local council if any structural elements or fire services are affected.
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