Relocating office pods: dismantling, moving, reuse and resale

Yes, office pods can be relocated. Modular, flat-pack pods are designed to be dismantled, moved and reassembled, usually by reversing the installation sequence. When the work is done carefully, a pod keeps its acoustic performance, so it moves with you when a lease ends, unlike a built meeting room that stays with the building.

Why relocation matters: office leases are short

Relocation matters because many organisations move or reconfigure offices more often than they replace furniture. A meeting room built from studwork and glass is usually left behind or stripped out at the end of a lease, while a pod can go with the business.

Data from property software provider Re-Leased, aggregated from more than 95,000 active commercial leases, put the average UK office lease length at 3.7 years in the first quarter of 2024, up from 2.9 years a year earlier (Re-Leased, 2024). Longer leases were growing, but shorter commitments remained common. Older data shows the same flexibility built into longer leases: MSCI’s UK Lease Events Review found break clauses in 38.5% of leases in 2018, up from 22.7% in 2007 (MSCI, 2018).

For a business on a three to five-year lease, a pod that can move to the next office spreads its cost over a longer life than a fixed room. Our guide on whether to lease or buy office pods looks at how this affects the purchase decision.

Pods versus built rooms when you move

The difference between a pod and a built room shows up most clearly at the end of a lease. A built room is part of the building; a pod is a piece of equipment that belongs to you.

Factor at lease end	Built meeting room or booth	Modular office pod
Ownership	Often becomes part of the landlord’s building	Remains the tenant’s asset
Dilapidations	May need stripping out and making good	Removed as a unit, leaving the floor clear
Reuse	Materials rarely reused intact	Can be reassembled in the new office
Acoustic performance after move	Not applicable	Maintained if seals and panels are refitted correctly
Planning flexibility	Fixed position	Can be repositioned within or between floors
Resale	No resale	Possible, depending on model, condition and demand

Planning a pod move

Planning starts with an inventory of what you have and a survey of where it is going. Do this as early as the office move timetable allows, because the new layout may not suit every pod.

List each pod with its model, size, finish, condition and any missing parts or damage. Keep the original assembly instructions and specification sheets if you have them; if not, ask the supplier. Then check the new office:

• Floor area and clearances. Each pod needs its footprint plus space for the door to open and a clear approach.
• Ceiling height. StillPods models range from about 2.2 to 2.33 m tall, and each needs clearance above for ventilation.
• Access route. Measure doors, lifts and corridors at the new building as you would for a new delivery.
• Power. Locate sockets or floor boxes near each planned position.
• Floor loading. For heavy meeting pods, confirm loading with the new landlord.

The chart shows how footprint grows with capacity across StillPods models, which is a quick way to test whether your existing pods fit the new plan.

Decide which pods to keep

A move is a chance to rebalance the mix. Look at how each pod was used in the old office: if single booths were always busy and a large meeting pod sat empty, the new layout may need more booths and fewer large pods. Single units such as the S1 soundproof phone booth are the easiest to relocate and redeploy, while larger meeting pods need more planning for access and floor space. Moving, storing and reinstalling a pod all cost time and money, so compare that cost with selling the pod and buying a model that suits the new office better. The full office pods range shows current sizes if you need to add units to match.

Timing also matters. If the old lease ends before the new office is ready, you may need short-term storage. Store dismantled pods flat, dry and protected from impact, with glass upright in racks, and keep all fixings and seals with their panels.

Dismantling and packing

Dismantling is the installation sequence in reverse: services first, then interior items, door, roof, walls and base. Taking photographs and labelling panels at each stage makes reassembly far easier.

1. Isolate and disconnect power. Unplug the pod or have an electrician disconnect a hard-wired supply.
2. Remove interior items. Take out seating, desks, shelves and loose acoustic panels.
3. Remove the door. Lift off the glass door with suction lifters or a team lift, and store it upright on a padded trolley or A-frame.
4. Remove the roof. Unclip the internal cables from the fan and lighting before lifting the roof panel.
5. Dismantle walls and frame. Label each panel and bag fixings by stage.
6. Pack for transport. Use the original crates where possible, or wrap panels in blankets and corner protection.

Dismantling a structure on site falls within the definition of construction work in regulation 2 of the CDM Regulations 2015, which also covers taking apart prefabricated elements, so plan the work with a method statement as you would an installation. Our step-by-step guide to office pod installation covers handling, safety and site controls that apply equally to a move.

Reassembly and re-commissioning

At the new office, reassemble the pod as if it were new, then check that it still performs as it did before. The two things most likely to suffer in a move are door seals and panel alignment, both of which affect acoustic performance.

After assembly, check the pod is level, the door closes fully and the seals compress evenly along their length. Replace any seals that are torn, flattened or missing; ask the supplier for spares. Test the fan, lighting and sockets, and include the pod in your electrical inspection regime at the new premises. Finally, the responsible person for the new building must take the pods into account in the fire risk assessment. Under article 9 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, an assessment must be reviewed where there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates.

Reuse, resale or recycling

When a pod is no longer needed, the law points towards reuse before recycling. In England and Wales, regulation 12 of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 requires businesses that produce or handle waste to take reasonable measures to apply the waste hierarchy: prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery and, last, disposal.

Office furniture still often ends up in the waste stream. A survey of 250 UK facilities and office managers for Business Moves Group found that half admitted sending unwanted furniture to general waste was a common disposal method, and respondents estimated that more than 40% of stored furniture could be reused within their organisations (Workplace Insight, 2025).

Reuse within your organisation

The simplest option is redeployment: moving pods to another floor, site or team. Pods can also be repurposed, for example turning a phone booth into a quiet focus space or a wellbeing room. A refresh of fabrics or felt colours can make older pods fit a new interior scheme; our custom and OEM pod service covers finish options for new units that need to match existing ones.

Selling pods

Office furniture dealers and clearance specialists may buy or broker used pods. Resale value depends on the model, age, condition, completeness and local demand, so there is no reliable rule of thumb. Pods with intact glass, clean upholstery, working fans and their original instructions are easier to sell. If you are planning to sell, obtain quotes from more than one dealer and factor in dismantling and collection.

Recycling at end of life

When a pod cannot be reused, separate its materials so each can be recycled: aluminium and steel frames, glass, timber or board panels, and felt or fabric. Electrical components such as fans, lighting and sockets should go through the appropriate electrical waste route. Our article on sustainable office pods looks at materials and end-of-life options in more detail.

A tax point when selling pods

Selling a pod can have tax consequences if your business claimed capital allowances on it. According to HMRC guidance on GOV.UK, a company that claimed full expensing on an asset and then sells it must work out a balancing charge and add it to its taxable profits. Where full expensing was claimed on the full cost, the balancing charge equals the disposal value, which is usually the sale price. The rules differ for other allowances, so check the treatment with your accountant before agreeing a sale.

Frequently asked questions

Can office pods be moved without dismantling?

Some smaller pods can be moved short distances on the same floor with suitable equipment, if the route is clear and the manufacturer allows it. For moves between floors or buildings, dismantling is normally needed to fit through doors and lifts and to avoid damage.

Will a pod lose soundproofing after being moved?

Not if it is reassembled correctly. Check that panels are aligned and door seals compress evenly, and replace any damaged seals. These two points have the most influence on acoustic performance.

Who should move our office pods?

An experienced installer or office relocation company is the safest choice, especially for meeting pods with large glass panels. Ask for a method statement and confirm their insurance covers the pods in transit.

Do moved pods need a new fire risk assessment?

The fire risk assessment for the new premises must take the pods into account, and the existing assessment for the old premises should be reviewed once they are removed.

Conclusion

Pods are one of the few parts of an office fit-out that can move with the business, which makes them a sensible choice where leases are short. Plan moves early, reassemble carefully and choose reuse or resale before recycling. If you are planning a new office or adding to existing pods, request a quote and our team will match models and finishes to your plan.

Sources

• Re-Leased – United Kingdom State of CRE Leasing Report 2024 (accessed October 2026)
• MSCI – UK Lease Events Review 2018 press release (accessed October 2026)
• legislation.gov.uk – Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, regulation 2: Interpretation (accessed October 2026)
• legislation.gov.uk – Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 9: Risk assessment (accessed October 2026)
• legislation.gov.uk – Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, regulation 12: Waste hierarchy (accessed October 2026)
• Workplace Insight – Half of firms are still sending unwanted office furniture to landfill (accessed October 2026)
• GOV.UK – Disposing an asset if you claimed full expensing or 50% first year allowance (accessed October 2026)