Commercial property · for tenants
Taking a lease
A commercial lease can tie your business in for years. We review it with you, explain what it really commits you to, and negotiate the terms that matter before you sign.
Depends on the length and complexity of the lease.
What’s included
- Reviewing the heads of terms and the draft lease
- A plain-English report on your obligations and the risks
- Negotiating changes with the landlord’s solicitor
- Enquiries of the landlord and checks on the landlord’s title
- Contracting out of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, where agreed
- Completing the lease and any rent deposit or guarantee
- Stamp Duty Land Tax return and Land Registry registration, where needed
Not included
- Searches, if you want them (we’ll recommend which)
- A survey or schedule of condition (a surveyor provides this)
- Stamp Duty Land Tax and Land Registry fees
- The landlord’s legal costs, if the lease says you pay them
How it works
What happens, step by step
- 01
Heads of terms
You agree the main terms with the landlord, often through agents. Send them to us early so we can flag anything unusual.
- 02
Lease review
We review the draft lease against the heads of terms and the market norm for your type of property.
- 03
Report and negotiation
We report to you in plain English and negotiate changes with the landlord’s solicitor.
- 04
Pre-completion
We raise enquiries, check the title and, if agreed, complete the 1954 Act contracting-out process.
- 05
Completion
You sign, the lease completes and you take the keys. We deal with any Stamp Duty and registration.
What we look out for
The terms that matter most
Repairs
Many leases make you responsible for all repairs, even to defects that were there before you moved in. A schedule of condition can limit this.
Rent reviews
How and when the rent can go up, and whether it can ever go down.
Break clauses
Your right to end the lease early, and the conditions attached. Strict conditions can make a break hard to use.
Service charge
What the landlord can recover from you for shared parts, and whether there’s a cap.
Security of tenure
Whether you have a right to renew at the end, or have agreed to give that up (contracting out).
Assigning and subletting
Whether you can pass the lease on if your business moves or closes, and on what conditions.
Questions
Taking a lease: your questions
It depends on how quickly terms are agreed and how much negotiation the lease needs. A straightforward new lease often takes a few weeks once we have the draft. We’ll tell you what’s holding things up at each stage.
It isn’t a legal requirement, but a commercial lease can commit your business to significant costs for years. We explain what you’re agreeing to and negotiate terms that protect you, before anything is binding.
By default, many business tenants have a right to renew their lease at the end. Landlords often ask tenants to give up that right before the lease is signed, using a formal notice and declaration. We explain what it means for you and handle the process.
Stamp Duty Land Tax can be due on a lease, depending on the rent, the length of the lease and any premium. We work out whether it applies and file any return for you.
Get a quote
Tell us about the lease
Send us the details, including any heads of terms or draft lease. We’ll confirm the cost before we start. Monday to Friday, 9am–5:30pm.
