SEVERAL businesses and charities are being forced to move out of their offices by the end of the year as a firm expands.

There are currently 21 firms and groups renting out space in Nuffield Way, Abingdon.

But they have been given notice to move out by December 31. Rupinder Scharma, who owns Oxon Accountancy, said: “It’s an extra burden for a small business. We can’t afford it.”

Oxon Accountancy is one of 19 small and medium-sized businesses, including Drivas Recruitment, plus two charities, Life Education Centres Thames Valley and the Nasio Trust, who say they were told at the end of October they would have to move.

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Mr Scharma, whose business employs three people and has been in the building for five years, said he had planned to stay beyond 2015 but instead has had to find alternative office space in Abingdon.

The building is owned by the UK arm of German-based manufacturer Miele.

Miele has had long-term leases with property agents Jennings and engineering firm Oxford Technologies for the past 10 years, both of which expire on December 31.

Jennings has leased the first and second floors, and in turn sub-let the space to the smaller businesses and charities, while Oxford Technologies has occupied the ground floor.

Miele has now struck a new agreement with Oxford Technologies to lease the entire building from January 1, 2015 for 10 years.

Jill Rayner, owner of magazine publisher Fyne Associates, a tenant for seven years, said the move was “a huge shock for us”. She had gone into a “panic” at the news because she had not planned or budgeted to relocate. The publisher is moving to Faringdon.

Although the tenancy agreements between the smaller businesses and Jennings could be terminated at one month’s notice by either party, business owners said they expected more warning.

Chris Williams, Jennings’s commercial manager, said it met Miele in February 2014 to begin talks about renewing its lease from 2015, and subsequently started discussions with Miele’s agent.

He said Jennings did not learn until early October about Oxford Technologies taking over the whole building, and said they too were shocked.

He added: “We’re very accommodating. We build relationships on trust, openness and honesty, and courtesy.”

Dominic Worsley, marketing director for Miele UK, said: “Miele sat down with Jennings in April or May this year.

“Essentially Jennings didn’t really pursue anything. In the meantime, Oxford Technologies wanted to increase their space. We did treat those parties equitably.”

Bernhard Haist, operations director for Oxford Technologies, said the engineering company, which employs about 40 people, needed the extra space because “we’re growing fast”.

He added that Oxford Technologies would not need all the space immediately and had asked “some” tenants to remain.

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