Business lease solicitors in Leicester

A business lease commits you to rent and other costs for years, and commercial tenants have much less statutory protection than residential ones. Most of the important points are decided at heads of terms, before the solicitors are involved, so take advice early.

Heads of terms to get right

• Rent, rent-free periods, and how often and how rent is reviewed (open market, fixed increases or index-linked).
• Length and breaks: when you can leave early and the conditions attached to breaking.
• Repair: a full repairing lease of an old building can make you responsible for problems you didn’t cause. Consider a schedule of condition with photos to limit this.
• Service charge: what’s included and whether there’s a cap.
• Use: make sure it fits your business now and allows flexibility.
• Assignment and subletting: whether you can pass the lease on if you need to.
• Security of tenure: whether the lease is inside or outside the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
• Alterations and fit-out: what you can do and what you must reinstate at the end.
• Guarantees and deposits.

Before you sign

Your solicitor will check the landlord’s title, raise enquiries, review planning use, and report on the lease. A building survey is worth considering if you’re taking on repair. Check business rates too, as they’re a significant cost.

At the end of the lease

What you agree now determines your rights at the end, including renewal, and your liability for dilapidations. See lease renewals.

Common questions