Before You Sign a Lease: Why Professional Advice Can Save You Thousands
Entering into a new commercial lease is a big commitment, one that can shape your business’s costs, flexibility, and long-term success. Yet many occupiers rush to sign without fully understanding what they’re agreeing to. At Olden Property, we regularly advise tenants and landlords across Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London on lease terms, rent levels and renewal strategy and one of the most common themes we see is that early advice can make all the difference.
The small print matters
Commercial leases are legally binding contracts that go far beyond rent and term length. Clauses covering repairing obligations, rent reviews, service charges, and break options can have major financial implications. For example, a seemingly standard “full repairing and insuring” clause could leave a tenant responsible for the entire building’s upkeep, even if they only occupy part of it.
Understanding these provisions before signing helps you negotiate fairer terms, limit exposure, and avoid disputes later on. A short review by a RICS surveyor or solicitor can often highlight risks that would otherwise go unnoticed until it’s too late.
Market rent isn’t always obvious
Another area where tenants can lose out is rent. Quoted rents are often open to negotiation, especially in secondary locations or where incentives (such as rent-free periods or stepped rents) can be agreed. We regularly prepare independent rental assessments for tenants and landlords to benchmark proposed rents against local market evidence. This ensures you’re paying a fair level based on comparable properties, not just accepting the landlord’s figure at face value.
Think beyond the lease term
It’s also important to consider what happens when the initial lease term ends. Does the lease fall within the protection of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, giving you a right to renew? Or does it exclude that protection entirely, leaving you with no automatic right to stay? These are crucial distinctions that affect both business continuity and long-term strategy.
Get advice before you commit
Whether you’re a first-time occupier or an experienced operator, getting early advice can save significant time, stress and money. At Olden Property, we review draft leases, advise
on heads of terms, and provide independent market rent valuations to support negotiation or renewal discussions.
If you’re about to sign a new commercial lease, or even just considering one, speak to a qualified surveyor first. The right advice before you commit is far cheaper than trying to unwind a problem later.
Olden Property provides RICS-compliant lease advice and rent review valuations across Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Greater London.
Contact us today to discuss your upcoming lease or renewal.