Commercial Property
Understanding the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954: key considerations for landlords and tenants
Losing your business premises, facing unexpected costs, or limiting future plans are all real risks when dealing with lease renewal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. Recent case law highlights that outcomes often depend not just on the law itself, but on timing, preparation, and the strength ....
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Right to bid versus right to buy: new rules set to impact the sale of community assets
New community right to buy rules could delay the sale of protected buildings and land Pubs, theatres, community centres. These and other Assets of Community Value (ACV) in England could soon be subject to stricter laws controlling their sale and development. In this blog, the Co....
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How will commercial property reforms impact high street landlords?
The future of local high streets has reached a tipping point – 67% of Britons already believe they are dying. And they could be right: almost 13,000 shops closed in 2024. It is not just retailers that are struggling. The growth of online shopping and economic pressures mean that commercial lan....
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From leasehold to commonhold: what does it mean for residential and commercial properties?
Landmark legislation has been put forward to transform the leasehold system in England and Wales. Although the changes are expected to mainly impact residential flats, there could be repercussions for mixed-use buildings too. In this blog, the Residential and Commercial Property teams at Attwaters ....
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Do you need an EPC to sell or let empty commercial property?
If you own empty commercial premises and are considering a sale or a new letting, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) should be addressed as early as possible. Leaving it too late can delay transactions and limit your options once interest is secured. An EPC is a legal requirement for mo....
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Could the permitted use of your commercial property disrupt your future plans?
When landlords let a commercial property, their focus often falls on how much rent they will charge and how long they want to lease it for. Of course, these are important factors to think about, but they are not the only ones that deserve attention. In initial meetings with landlord cli....
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Could the physical condition of your commercial property be limiting your ability to let or sell?
If you have a commercial property sitting empty and are considering a sale or letting, the first questions landlords ask are often commercial ones. What price should it be marketed at? Should they wait for market conditions to improve? Both are reasonable questions, but there’s another one ....
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Why letting agreements should reflect your long-term plans
When a commercial property has been empty for a long time, landlords often turn their focus to how they can get income back through the door. Agreeing on heads of terms quickly can feel like progress, but it is also the stage at which landlords can lock themselves into arrangements that w....
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Are option agreements useful for developers?
Buying land with a view to development and/or change of use is a major commitment and it is understandable, especially if it is your first venture, that you have some reservations about an immediate purchase where it might not be possible to achieve development. This is where understanding your ....
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Commercial property transfers during mergers and acquisitions
When a business changes hands, the focus is often on shares, contracts and people. Property can sometimes slip down the list which can be costly. Commercial premises often represent a big part of the value of the deal and problems with title or occupation have a habit of surfacing at the worst p....
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Tips and traps for buying and selling commercial property
Commercial property deals often come at busy and important moments for business owners. Maybe you’re moving into your first premises or selling a site that has supported your business for many years. Either way, the process can feel demanding because there is quite a lot to think about befo....
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Granting a lease or a licence – What do I need to know?
Some landlords are under pressure to avoid having empty premises and secure some income. That urgency can sometimes lead to hasty decisions about whether to grant a lease or a licence, which can cause problems down the line. Knowing how each works helps you avoid disputes and protects your pr....
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How the rules for commercial leases are set to change
After decades without change, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 is under review. The Law Commission is looking closely at the process of excluding a tenant from having the benefit of security of tenure by its commercial lease of premises at the end of its contractual term. What is se....
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Could we see the end of upward-only rent reviews?
The Government’s English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is progressing through Parliament. Buried within this Bill is a proposed ban on upward-only rent reviews in commercial leases. As someone who spends a lot of time advising on commercial leases, we have seen first-hand how re....
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Avoiding problems with easements on commercial property
When you own or develop commercial property, the existence or creation of easements can have a significant impact on what you can and cannot do. Put simply, easements may be rights that you have over neighbouring property but also may be rights that owners of neighbouring properties have over yo....
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Commercial property litigation: explained
If you’re a landlord or managing agent of commercial property, finding yourself in a dispute can be stressful, costly and time-consuming. In certain circumstances, it can be very challenging to find a solution without professional legal intervention. In this blog, we outline what you need to know....
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Developing agricultural land: Addressing the challenges of acquisition
The UK’s agricultural land market has been an attractive proposition for investors for a long time as they attempt to bank land and take advantage of rural expansion. Whilst farm land was once the reserve of farming families, agricultural land is increasingly drawing the attention of this wide....
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Upward only rent reviews
The proposed ban of Upwards Only Rent Reviews in commercial leases has been tabled by a Bill labelled ‘English Devolution and Community Empowerment’. (If the Bill becomes an Act, not many will easily find the whereabouts of the ban provisions as the label does not obviously direct location, alt....
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The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023: What landlords and business owners need to know
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 represents one of the most significant reforms to planning and development in England in recent years. Aimed at addressing regional inequalities and streamlining local regeneration, the Act has clear and direct implications for commercial landlords, tenant....
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The Building Safety Levy
The Building Safety Levy is due to be launched in the Autumn of 2026; the power to impose the levy is found in the Building Safety Act 2022. Tina Dobbs, Senior Associate in our Commercial Property team tells us what it is, and who will it affect: What is the levy? It is essentially a mandato....
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