If you’re a commercial landlord or tenant, you’re likely to require legal support at some stage, to navigate the various obligations and issues that often arise with commercial property dealings. Our specialist commercial landlord and tenant solicitors are committed to providing industry-leading service and supporting clients with commercial property responsibilities, legalities, and concerns.
We appreciate that our clients depend on straightforward and stress-free processes for their commercial property matters. Our experienced and approachable team of commercial property solicitors offer a full range of services to assist business tenants and landlords with their professional relationships and individual needs while supporting both parties to comply with relevant commercial property laws.
At Heringtons Solicitors, we can assist with a range of matters, including:
- Drafting leases and lease agreement advice
- Commercial lease extensions
- Security of tenure
- Advice on break clauses
- Deed of variation
- Licence to occupy
- Tenancy at will
- Commercial landlord and tenant disputes
- Possessions proceedings
Get in touch with our commercial landlord & tenant solicitors in East Sussex
For legal advice about commercial landlord and tenant related matters, contact your local Heringtons office in Battle, Bexhill on Sea, Eastbourne, Hastings or Rye.
Alternatively, fill in our online enquiry form, and our expert property dispute resolution solicitors will be in touch shortly.
Our commercial landlord & tenant services
Drafting leases
Commercial leases tend to be lengthy and complex documents. To protect both parties’ interests, it’s incredibly important that these documents are correctly drafted with the support of an expert solicitor. Such leases cover a variety of details, including:
- Basic details of both parties- names and contact details, etc.
- Operative clauses-potential clauses might cover security responsibilities, subletting terms, or issues of access.
- Schedules-covering a description of the commercial property, the obligations of both parties, service charges, and rent review details.
Our commercial landlord and tenant lawyers can assist landlords in drafting legally sound lease agreements and support tenants in reviewing any agreement they are entering into to ensure that their needs are accounted for and their rights are protected.
Commercial lease extensions
According to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, commercial tenants have the right to extend their lease, providing that specific criterion is satisfied. Our high-calibre solicitors can offer both landlords and tenants legal assistance and advice to guide them swiftly through the lease extension processes in compliance with UK commercial property law.
Security of tenure
The security of tenure permits tenants the automatic right to extend the lease. If a commercial landlord does not wish to provide the tenant with these renewal rights, they must go through a specified process to exclude that lease from the Landlord and Tenant Act. Our commercial property solicitors can guide landlords through the process should they wish to opt out of these lease renewal obligations.
Advice on break clauses
Break clauses, sometimes termed ‘break notices’, refer to terms that may be included in a commercial lease. These terms permit both business tenants and landlords to terminate their lease, at a certain period, for example, one year into the lease.
Our specialist lawyers can assist commercial landlords in correctly drafting such clauses into their lease agreements or offer tenants advice when preparing to use a break notice. Our support with break clauses also includes:
- Supporting business tenants and landlords to negotiate the terms of a break clause.
- Advice on whether to include fixed-date clauses or rolling clauses.
- Drafting the conditions associated with the break clause.
Deed of variation
A commercial lease deed of variation allows a landlord or tenant to adjust or change the terms of their commercial lease. It’s a type of document that outlines which changes have been made, and potential changes could be removing a prior restriction or including a new type of property usage.
There are various situations where a commercial landlord and tenant may wish to use a deed of variation, for instance:
- Both parties wish to remove a certain clause.
- There’s an error in the lease that the parties wish to correct.
- The lease does not include certain rights which the tenant needs to complete their day-to-day business operations.
Licence to occupy
A licence to occupy commercial property refers to the permission for a party to occupy or use commercial property. While the party gains permission to utilise the premises, the licence is not a type of lease. Generally, a licence to occupy only covers a short period of time, and the occupant cannot benefit from a security of tenure.
Our commercial landlord and tenant lawyers can support both business property owners and potential occupants to enter into a mutually beneficial licence to occupy contract. To learn more about licence to occupy, contact us at Heringtons Solicitors.
Tenancy at will
A tenancy at will refers to an agreement whereby a business tenant indefinitely occupies a property with the consent of the landlord. Within the terms of this agreement, both parties can provide immediate notice at any point.
These agreements tend to only be appropriate when used on a temporary basis. Business tenants and landlords who are considering entering into a tenancy at will should first seek the advice of a business property solicitor.
Commercial landlord and tenant disputes
Commercial landlord and tenant disputes can be convoluted and confusing, causing various negative consequences for all parties involved. Landlord and tenant disputes may involve various issues, including debt recovery, absent landlords, property tribunal or court orders, or cases of unlawful eviction and harassment.
We appreciate that disputes regarding commercial leases can be frustrating and are likely to impact your business or your investment. When such complications arise, our expert lawyers can support you with transparent, tactical guidance and resolutions.
Possessions proceedings
If a commercial landlord has served notice to a business tenant, and the tenant is refusing to vacate the premises, the landlord may need support to gain a possession order to reclaim the commercial property. We can support commercial landlords who need to gain back their premises, and we can also assist tenants who believe that they are being unlawfully forced to vacate.
How our commercial landlord & tenant solicitors work
Our commercial landlord and tenant solicitors take a proactive approach, offering bespoke solutions to appeal to the individual needs of both landlords and tenants. We understand that for both parties, commercial tenant and landlord relationships are a question of livelihood. Our lawyers will take the time to assess the specific requirements of each client, as well as address any concerns.
When issues and disputes arise, we will support you in dealing with these problems swiftly and sensitively, ensuring that you understand your legal obligations at every stage. We can resolve the vast majority of commercial landlord and tenant disputes using meditation processes. Where this is not a feasible option, we can help clients to prepare for court proceedings, as well as offer the legal representation required.
Our commercial landlord & tenant fees
Our specialist solicitors offer all clients a transparent estimate of our fees from the beginning. We appreciate that we offer an important service to landlords and tenants in the community, which is why we try to keep our fees as low as possible. At every stage, we will review your costs so that our clients know exactly what to expect.
For specific matters, we may be able to provide our services on a fixed fee basis. If the level of service required is more complex, we will agree on an appropriate hourly rate. After assessing the details of your case, a member of our legal team will be able to provide a breakdown of your costs.
Get in touch with our commercial landlord & tenant solicitors in East Sussex
For advice from our specialist commercial landlord and tenant solicitors, contact your local Heringtons office in Battle, Bexhill on Sea, Eastbourne, Hastings or Rye.
Or fill in our online enquiry form, and we will be in touch shortly.