The tenant readiness checklist captures everything a first-time industrial tenant needs to document before entering the market. But it’s too long to hand to an agent or landlord. The requirement brief template condenses it into a single page that anyone can read in two minutes. It is the document you send to every agent you engage and bring to every viewing.
Without a clear brief, agents respond to vague descriptions like “I need something for food production” with vague shortlists. You spend three months touring units that don’t match what you actually need, and the agent spends time on properties that were never going to work. With a clear brief, agents filter before presenting, viewings are focused, and you have a consistent scoring framework for comparing units.
This article provides the template structure, field-by-field guidance, a worked example, and notes on how to use it throughout the search process, from first agent engagement through to final unit comparison.
Turn Your Readiness Checklist Into a One-Page Brief
The readiness checklist (E1) covers six areas. Most of those areas need to appear on the brief, but in compressed form. The brief is not a replacement for the checklist. It’s a communication tool derived from it. Complete the checklist first, then fill in the brief template.
A clear brief does three things: it communicates your operational requirements precisely, it prevents agents from wasting your time on unsuitable units, and it gives you a consistent scoring framework during viewings. Without it, agents respond to vague descriptions with vague shortlists.
Template Fields
Header: Business name, contact person, target move-in date. The date matters: agents and landlords prioritise tenants with realistic timelines. A target of “Q3” is less useful than “September 2026.” If the timeline is flexible, state the range.
Activity description: Two to three sentences describing what the business actually does operationally, not the industry category, but the process. “Central kitchen producing 800 halal-certified ready-to-eat meals daily for corporate catering” is better than “food business.” “CNC machining of precision aluminium components for aerospace customers, batch sizes 50–500 units” is better than “manufacturing.” The more specific, the more useful the recommendations. Include production volume indicators if established (daily output, number of staff on the production floor, shift structure), because these drive power, exhaust, and drainage requirements.
Zoning requirement: State B1, B2, or either. If you are unsure of the classification, state the activity and note that zoning confirmation is required. Do not leave this blank. Agents need to know whether you have flexibility on this point. A tenant who will only accept B2 because their process involves electroplating has no flexibility. A tenant whose food production could work in either B1 or B2 has meaningful flexibility that expands the search. See the B1 vs B2 guide if you need to understand what each classification permits.
Space requirements: State the minimum and ideal square footage. “2,000–3,000 sq ft” is more useful than “around 2,500 sq ft.” State ceiling height requirements explicitly: “minimum 4.5m” or “5m preferred for racking.” State floor loading requirements with the specific kN/m² figure and the equipment that drives it, for example “20 kN/m² required for two cold rooms and heavy racking.” Note the building type preference (flatted factory upper floor, ramp-up, or detached) and whether upper-floor units are acceptable.
Infrastructure: State the estimated power demand in kW and phase: “3-phase, 80 kW” is actionable, “decent power” is not. For exhaust, state the type (cooking, production, process) and the routing requirement, for example “cooking exhaust to roof, 400mm duct, grease trap required.” State water and drainage needs, such as “3-phase water connection, grease trap required for food production.” State cold room or chiller requirements with dimensions: “two cold rooms, 3m × 4m each, floor loading 15 kN/m².” See the power capacity guide for how to estimate kW requirements if you have not done this yet.
Loading and access: State the delivery frequency and largest vehicle type, for example “3–4 deliveries per day by 10-ft truck, occasional 20-ft container for bulk supply.” State the access requirement: “ramp-up access mandatory, ground floor preferred” or “goods-lift acceptable, minimum 2-tonne capacity.” State whether a dedicated loading bay is required or shared is acceptable. See the ramp-up vs flatted guide if you need to understand what vehicle access means operationally.
Location and budget: State preferred zones or estates, such as “East Singapore, within 20 minutes of Changi” or “Tengah, convenient for Port access.” State the all-in monthly budget range: “$5,000–7,000 per month all-in (rent plus service charge)” is more useful than “up to $6 psf.” State fit-out budget if known, lease duration preference, and target commencement date.
Non-negotiables: Three to five absolute requirements: the deal-breakers. These are the items on which you will walk away from a unit that meets every other criterion. A well-drafted non-negotiable list is more important than a detailed specification list. Examples:
- Food factory zoning (B1 or B2) confirmed in writing before LOI
- Exhaust duct routing to roof confirmed feasible before LOI
- Minimum 3-phase 60 kW power supply confirmed available before LOI
- Ramp-up access or ground floor with direct vehicle access
- Floor loading minimum 15 kN/m² verified against cold room specification
Prioritise your non-negotiables in order. If you have five but the building only meets four, you know which one to compromise on first.
Example Brief
ABC Food Pte Ltd, central kitchen producing ready-to-eat meals for corporate catering. Zoning: B1 or B2 (food factory approved). Space: 2,000–3,000 sq ft, minimum 4m ceiling height, floor loading >10 kN/m² to support two cold rooms. Infrastructure: 3-phase, 60 kW minimum; cooking exhaust to roof with grease trap; two cold rooms. Loading: 2–3 deliveries per day by 10-ft truck; ramp-up access preferred; goods-lift-only acceptable if ramp-up unavailable. Location: Central or East Singapore, within 30 minutes of CBD. Budget: $3.50–5.00 psf per month (all-in); fit-out allowance $120,000. Non-negotiables: food factory zoning confirmed, exhaust routing to roof, 3-phase power minimum 60 kW, ramp-up or ground floor with direct vehicle access. Lease: 3 years, target commencement Q2.
The specificity here is the point. An agent who receives this brief knows exactly which buildings to search, which units to rule out, and which questions to ask before presenting options.
Using the Brief
Before agent engagement: Send the brief to every agent you engage before they show you any units. A brief sent along with a searching question (“which of your current stock meets these criteria?”) produces better responses than a vague request. Agents who receive a specific brief will typically acknowledge that 70–80 percent of their initial suggestions don’t match and will be more focused in their second round.
At each viewing: Bring a printed or digital copy. Use the brief to score each unit systematically. For each requirement (zoning, power, exhaust, floor loading, access), mark “meets,” “partial,” or “fails.” A unit that partially meets the power requirement (has 40 kW when you need 60 kW) is not the same as one that meets it. Partial matches on non-negotiables are still fails. Note which non-negotiable is not met and whether it can be resolved.
After each viewing: Update the brief. Early requirements often shift once you see what is actually available. If every suitable unit you find has 4.5m ceilings when you specified 5m, decide whether 4.5m is acceptable before the next viewing. If exhaust routing is consistently the binding constraint, elevate it in the non-negotiable list or begin verifying exhaust shaft capacity before viewing rather than during.
Scoring framework: Assign a simple numeric score (each “meets” = 2, each “partial” = 1, each “fails” = 0) and calculate a total score per unit. This produces a ranking that cuts through the subjective impression of a viewing. A unit that felt “okay” but scored poorly against the brief goes to the bottom of the shortlist. A unit that felt “not quite right” but scored well against the brief warrants more serious consideration.
When market doesn’t match the brief: if the market cannot supply what you need at your budget, you have three choices: increase budget, reduce requirements (and decide which non-negotiables to compromise), or delay the move until suitable stock becomes available. Do not compromise on safety or licensing requirements. Do not accept a unit where the floor loading cannot accommodate your equipment plan even if the landlord offers to “upgrade it.” Floor loading is a structural property that cannot be upgraded in most Singapore industrial buildings.
The brief pairs with the viewing checklist (D1), which provides the unit-assessment tool you use at each property. The brief defines what you need; the viewing checklist evaluates whether a specific unit delivers it.
Summary
A one-page brief with activity description, zoning, space, infrastructure, loading, location, and non-negotiables produces better search results and faster decisions. Complete the readiness checklist first, then fill in the brief template and send it to every agent before viewings begin. Score units against the brief at each viewing and update as your market knowledge sharpens.
For the full readiness checklist this brief is derived from, see Industrial Tenant Readiness Checklist. For scoring units, see the Viewing Checklist.
References
[1] URA — Changing the Use of Your Property (for business). https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Property/Business/Change-Use-of-Property-for-Business
[2] SCDF — Fire Safety (Acts, Codes & Regulations). https://www.scdf.gov.sg/fire-safety-services-listing/downloads/acts-codes-and-regulations
[3] URA — URA maps (Master Plan / zoning lookup). https://www.ura.gov.sg/maps/
[4] BCA — Building and Construction Authority (building works, structural requirements). https://www1.bca.gov.sg/safety-and-standards/building-control-act/
[5] EMA — Energy Market Authority (electricity supply standards, licensed electrical workers). https://www.ema.gov.sg/our-energy-story/energy-market-landscape
[6] ESG — Singapore Government resources (licences, permits, regulations overview). https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/