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Commercial Lease Solicitor for Tenants and Landlords
A commercial lease can affect your business for years. I review and negotiate the lease, explain the points that matter in plain English, and complete it.
Commercial lease services
New commercial lease
Reviewing, negotiating and completing a new lease, for tenants or landlords, handled personally and fully online.
Lease renewal
Renewing a commercial lease on the same terms, for tenants or landlords, handled personally and fully online.
Lease Assignment
Transferring a commercial lease to a new tenant, for the outgoing or incoming tenant, handled personally and fully online.
Heads of terms
Heads of terms are the outline of the deal: the rent, the length of the lease and the main conditions. Many of the points below are set at this stage, so it can help to speak to me before you sign them.
Rent and rent reviews
The lease sets out how much rent you pay and when. A rent review clause says how and when the rent can change during the lease, for example in line with the market or with inflation. I explain what your rent review clause means in practice.
Break clauses
A break clause lets one or both sides end the lease early, on a set date. Break clauses usually come with conditions, such as giving notice in time and paying the rent up to date, and if they are not met, the break may not work. I check the conditions and explain them clearly.
Repairs and service charge
The lease says what you have to repair and what you contribute to the upkeep of the building through a service charge. Under a full repairing lease, the tenant can be responsible for most repair costs, so this is one of the most important parts to understand.
What is a landlord responsible for?
It depends on the lease. In many leases, the landlord insures the building and looks after shared parts, then recovers the cost through the service charge. I check exactly what your lease says.
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and your right to renew
Many business tenants have a right to a new lease when their lease ends, under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. Some leases exclude that right, which is known as contracting out. I explain whether your lease gives you the right to renew, and I act on renewals for tenants and landlords.
Rent deposit deeds and licences for alterations
A rent deposit deed sets out the terms on which the landlord holds a cash deposit as security. A licence for alterations is the landlord’s written consent to works you want to carry out. Both are prepared alongside a new lease where needed, and each has its own fixed fee on the Fees page.
Use, assignment and underletting
The lease says what the premises can be used for, and whether you can transfer the lease to someone else (assignment) or let part of it (underletting) later. I check these terms, so they fit your plans.
Tenants and landlords
I act for tenants taking on new premises and for landlords granting or renewing leases. I also act on lease assignments, where a lease is transferred from one tenant to another.
Fees
The fixed fees for new leases, renewals, assignments and add-on documents are on the Fees page, shown plus VAT and including VAT.
Ready for a fixed-fee quote?
Tell me briefly what you need. I will reply with a written quote and explain what happens next.