Set clear rules for shared workspace use with a property licence agreement

The common problem is that a generic licence does not match the way flexible space is actually sold and used. Shared workspaces often involve rotating users, bookable rooms, common facilities, access systems, house rules and short notice changes. If the agreement is too thin, issues can arise around who can use which areas, what is included in the fee, how behaviour rules are enforced, and when access can be suspended or ended. A better drafted licence helps align the legal terms with the practical reality of your site operations.

These agreements commonly cover the licensed area or membership type, access times, permitted use, shared facilities, payment terms, security or access credentials, house rules, damage and maintenance responsibilities, suspension rights, termination and what happens to property left on site. Some arrangements also need wording around meeting rooms, internet access, signage, storage, guest access or events. The right mix depends on whether you offer hot desks, dedicated desks, private offices, studios or a combination of different occupancy models under one operating setup.

It usually depends on how the premises are structured, whether users have exclusive areas or only shared access, how bookings are managed, and whether extra services are bundled into the occupancy fee. It can also depend on whether your site has special rules for after-hours access, equipment use, events or client-facing businesses operating from the space. If any regulator or landlord approvals are relevant, If regulator or authority requirements affect your matter, we will talk you through the practical next steps.. That is why the agreement should reflect the actual operating model rather than a generic office licence precedent.

Often, yes. A single short-form template may not deal well with mixed offerings such as casual memberships, dedicated desks, private suites and add-on services under one brand. Different user types can create different risk points around access rights, payment triggers, notice periods and what facilities are included. A more considered agreement can either accommodate those variations within one document or make clear where separate terms are needed. That helps avoid confusion later when a member assumes they have broader rights than your business intended to grant.

We will usually need the property details, the type of workspace offering, your pricing model, access arrangements, house rules and any special conditions you want users to accept. If you already have a template, membership terms or onboarding emails, those can also be useful because they often reveal operational points that should be reflected in the licence. Timing depends on how settled those details are and whether you need a new draft or a review of an existing document. If you have a launch date, tell us upfront.

Just submit an enquiry via this page or click the 'get started' button on our website to submit an enquiry. After you've submitted an enquiry, one of our legal consultants will review your enquiry within 1 business day and get in touch to get a better idea of exactly what you are looking for.

Then your legal consultant will send through an email with a bit more information about the services you need, along with a fixed fee quote setting out costs, scope of the service and timing. Have a read through it, and if you're happy with the scope, you can accept and sign our engagement letter online - easy!

Once you've formally accepted, we'll connect you with a specialist lawyer and they will work with you to complete your project. They will contact you by email or phone if they need to get in touch.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Property Licence Agreement Shared Workspace service, pricing starts from $900.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We operate completely online, which means we can help you wherever you are in New Zealand. We have office spaces in Sydney, and in Melbourne, but our use of technology allows our team members to work remotely from around the world. Our legal team are mostly based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. We also have a London office for Sprintlaw UK.

Our legal team is made up of experienced lawyers, who are specialists in various areas of law and hold an Australian legal practising certificate. None of our Sprintlaw lawyers are New Zealand qualified lawyers and they do not currently hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

They provide legal services working remotely from Australia via our 'legal consultancy' model, through which (under section 6 and section 35 of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006) our Australian legal team are permitted to provide legal services to New Zealand businesses provided they do not provide services in certain 'reserved' areas of law. You can read our FAQ page to learn a bit more about our 'legal consultancy' model.

Given the strong similarities between Australian and New Zealand law, and the areas of law in which we practice (being small business and startup law), we do not view the fact that our lawyers have not qualified in New Zealand as having any substantive impact on the quality of our service. We are committed to ensuring that we provide high quality, affordable legal services to all our New Zealand clients.

Our legal team have all trained at leading firms, but have left the traditional corporate law world to join us on our mission to create a new and better way of delivering legal services. They have specialist expertise in technology law, intellectual property law, contract drafting and review, corporate law and commercial law.