Buckworths acts for tenants in commercial property transactions across London and the UK. Our commercial property solicitors have extensive experience drafting and negotiating commercial leases, advising on all related property documentation, and representing tenants in commercial property disputes.
We act for tenants across all types of commercial premises, including shops, offices, restaurants, gyms, care homes, and nurseries. We offer fixed fees for many of our commercial property services, giving you certainty on cost from the outset.
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Commercial Property Services
FAQs
The key areas are the length of the lease and any break clauses, repair and dilapidations obligations, rent review provisions, the ability to assign or sublet, landlord consent requirements for alterations, and whether the lease is protected by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. Repair obligations are particularly important. Tenants can face significant claims at the end of a lease if these are not properly understood before signing.
We offer fixed-fee commercial lease reviews for tenants. The fee depends on the length and complexity of the lease. We provide a clear quote upfront before any work begins. Most lease reviews are completed within five to seven working days of receiving the lease documentation.
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (amongst other things) gives business tenants the right to renew their lease when it expires. If your lease is not protected by the Act, you could lose the right to remain in your premises at the end of the term, which is particularly damaging where you have invested in fit-out works. We advise tenants on whether their lease is protected and what that means in practice.
Yes, there are several ways to exit a commercial lease early. Options include exercising a break clause if one exists, negotiating a lease surrender with the landlord, assigning the lease to a new tenant, or subletting the premises. Each route has different legal and financial implications and we advise tenants on all of them.
A dilapidations claim is a claim by the landlord at the end of a lease for the cost of putting the property back into the condition required by the lease. These claims can be substantial where repair obligations have not been addressed during the term. We make sure tenants understand their repair obligations before they sign, not after.