Avoid the Red Tape: Renting vs. Buying a Structure

When your business needs more space, getting it in place quickly and cost-effectively is crucial. Yet many companies find themselves bogged down by red tape when trying to purchase a new building. Financing arrangements, planning delays, legal processes – they can all slow your plans and tie up resources.

That’s why so many organisations choose to rent temporary or semi-permanent buildings instead. Renting offers a faster, more flexible path to the space you need – without the complications that come with buying.

In this article, we’ll explore how renting a temporary building helps you avoid some common hurdles, such as lengthy approval processes, complicated financing, legal complexity, and onerous renewal or exit terms.

If your business values speed, agility, and simplicity, renting a building through Lauralu could be the ideal solution.

Faster Approval and Deployment

One of the biggest frustrations businesses face when buying property is the time it takes to get approvals and complete the purchase.

A typical buying process involves:

• Identifying and inspecting suitable properties
• Securing financing or board approval
• Negotiating purchase terms
• Conducting legal due diligence and compliance checks
• Obtaining planning permission (if required)
• Completing contracts and financial transactions
  

Each of these steps can introduce delays. Even in the best-case scenario, buying a building may take several months – or longer if complications arise.

Renting a temporary or semi-permanent building is dramatically faster. 

The process usually looks like this:

• Initial consultation with Lauralu to scope requirements
• Site survey and building specification agreed
• Rental contract signed (often much simpler than a purchase agreement)
• Structure manufactured and installed – typically in a matter of weeks
  

Because rented buildings are temporary structures, they often benefit from more straightforward planning rules – especially for installations on existing commercial or industrial sites.

The result? You can have high-quality space in place far more quickly than if you pursue a property purchase.

Thinking of deploying a temporary structure for your business? Discuss your specific sector’s needs with a Lauralu expert and get a tailored recommendation. 

No Complicated Financing Required

Purchasing property nearly always involves complex financing. Securing a commercial mortgage or raising capital requires:

• Detailed business case development
• Internal board approvals
• External credit assessments
• Long-term financial commitment
• Exposure to interest rate risk
  

For many companies, this process is a major hurdle. Even if financing is secured, taking on long-term debt can reduce financial flexibility and constrain future strategic choices. Renting allows your business to avoid these issues entirely.

• No large capital outlay is required upfront
• Rental payments are typically treated as operating expenses, not capital costs
• The approval process is often much simpler – rental contracts are shorter and involve lower financial risk
• No interest rate risk or debt servicing is required
  

This means that renting can often be approved internally much faster than a capital property purchase – especially for fast-moving businesses where time to market is critical.

Simplified Legal and Administrative Process

Property ownership can bring ongoing administrative burdens.

• Title management and registration
• Ongoing tax and insurance obligations
• Compliance with changing planning and building regulations
• Maintenance and facilities management responsibilities
  

These obligations can consume valuable time and resources – especially for businesses whose core expertise lies elsewhere.

With a rental structure, much of this complexity is removed:

• The landlord (Lauralu or our partners) retains ownership and associated legal responsibilities
• Rental contracts are simpler and more streamlined than purchase agreements
• Many maintenance and compliance obligations are handled by the rental provider
• Insurance and liability arrangements are typically clear and easy to manage
  

You get the space you need – without adding unnecessary legal or administrative overhead to your organisation.