Home  /  Insights  /  Commercial Property & Office Space
Commercial Property & Office Space  

How to Buy at a Commercial Property Auction in London

A buyer's guide to commercial auctions.

How to Buy at a Commercial Property Auction in London Commercial Property & Office Space

Updated October 2026 · Fraser Bond

Commercial · Auctions

Buying at a commercial auction

Legal packread it
Lease& tenant
10%on the day
Max bidcalculator
In short: Commercial auctions offer shops, offices, mixed-use buildings and ground rents, often with tenants in place. When the hammer falls, you've exchanged contracts: you usually pay a 10% deposit and buyer's fees on the day and complete within about 20 to 28 working days. So all due diligence must be done before you bid: legal pack, leases, rent arrears, repairing obligations, VAT and planning. Set a firm maximum. Fraser Bond can help you assess lots and let or manage what you buy.
Maximum bid calculator
Value at target yield–
Maximum bid (before SDLT)–

Then deduct non-residential SDLT and check VAT.

Before auction day

Frequently asked questions

Is an auction purchase binding?

Yes, exchange happens when the hammer falls.

How fast must I complete?

Usually within about 20 to 28 working days.

Can Fraser Bond help?

Yes, with assessing lots and letting or managing after purchase.

Bidding on a commercial lot?

Talk to us about value and letting.

Speak to our teamCommercial property

Related guides

Next step

You are one message away from an answer.

If you have a question

Send it to us and get a straight answer.

Describe the property and the problem. We will tell you what we would do, what it should cost, and if we are not the right people, who is.

  • Replies the same working day
  • The person who answers is the person who handles it
  • No fee, and no obligation to instruct us
If you are looking for a property

See everything we are instructed on.

Sales and lettings across Prime Central London and the wider UK, with the same team behind every listing.

  • Residential and commercial in one search
  • Filter by borough, budget and size
  • Register once and we will send matches first