In this series of articles, we have sought to demonstrate that a commercial lease has to cover many areas so as to fully record the landlord’s and tenant’s respective positions on any number of concerns that may arise during the term of the lease. Some of the topics may have appeared common sense and something you feel you could deal with for yourselves. However, we hope that we have highlighted that other areas can be more complex and involved, with perhaps unexpected consequences.
A modern commercial lease is a commonly a long and complex document, containing wording that has, over the years, come to have a specific meaning and a particular legal effect. Whilst there is a drive to use Plain English in legal documents, we are still a long way off this being the norm. Fully understanding what you are reading, and the implications and effect of the particular form of wording, is not necessarily straightforward. Indeed, sometimes the skill lies in noting what is not there, rather than understanding what is.
If you weigh up the potential cost to you and your business of entering a lease, taking into account liabilities for rent, repairs, outgoings, legislative compliance etc, we believe that the cost of taking legal advice before entering the lease is both reasonable and proportionate. If you have any questions or concerns, please therefore do not hesitate to contact us.
In this series of articles, we are aiming to give you a brief overview of the principal areas covered by a commercial lease. These articles are for guidance only and do not represent legal advice. If you need advice or assistance on leases or any other property concern, please do not hesitate to contact Andrew Rannie, Head of the Property Department for a free initial consultation.
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