Published 23 June 2026
The end of a printer or copier lease is not a cliff edge, but it does catch businesses out, usually because nobody diarised the notice period and the agreement quietly rolled over. Handled well, the end of a lease is simply a decision point with a few good options. Here is what actually happens, and what to check before your term runs out.
The most popular route. You refresh to the latest HP or Konica Minolta hardware on a new agreement, picking up better speed, security and energy efficiency, often with little or no change to your monthly cost. It is the natural moment to right-size too, scaling the device up or down to match how your printing has actually changed.
If the current machine still does everything you need, many agreements let you continue on a secondary rental, sometimes at a reduced rate. It keeps things simple, though you stay on ageing technology, so it is best treated as a short bridge rather than a long-term plan.
If you no longer need the equipment, you end the agreement and return it. The key here is to follow the return conditions in your contract and, critically, to deal with the data first (more on that below).
This is the step most businesses overlook. A modern multifunction printer is effectively a networked computer with a hard drive, and it can hold copies of the documents it has scanned, printed and emailed. Returning a copier without securely wiping that drive is a real data-protection risk, the kind of thing that turns up in a breach or an ICO complaint. Before any device leaves your premises, the storage must be securely wiped or physically destroyed. At Mastercopy, secure data wiping is built into every device changeover, so nothing sensitive walks out of the door, in keeping with our ISO 27001 certification.
We manage the whole end-of-lease process for you: a timely reminder before your notice period, a clear recommendation on whether to upgrade, continue or return, secure data wiping, and collection of the old device, with no gap in service if you are moving to a new machine. It is all part of our UK-wide printer and copier leasing service. If you are weighing up the wider decision, our guides on owning vs leasing and the benefits of leasing are a useful read.
Three: upgrade to a newer device on a fresh lease, continue with the existing device on a secondary rental, or return the equipment and end the agreement.
Usually yes. Most leases have a notice period and roll over automatically if you miss it, so check your contract and diarise the window well ahead of the end date.
Multifunction printers store documents on an internal hard drive, so the drive must be securely wiped or destroyed before the device leaves your premises. Mastercopy handles this as part of every changeover.
It depends on the agreement. Operating leases usually don't transfer ownership; some allow purchase at fair market value. Ask us and we'll confirm the options for your lease.
Fair wear and tear is fine, but you're typically responsible for returning it complete and undamaged. Your agreement sets out the exact conditions, and we manage collection so nothing is missed.
Coming to the end of a lease, or not sure when yours ends? Call Mastercopy on 01642 750404 or email sales@mastercopy.co.uk and we'll review your options.
We'll handle the upgrade, the secure data wipe and the collection, with no gap in service. Get in touch for a tailored quote.