From 1 April 2018 the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 impose a new legal standard for minimum energy efficiency which will apply to rented commercial buildings. From this date it will be against the law for a landlord to grant a new lease of commercial property with an EPC Rating of F or G. This will also prevent the granting of new subleases and lease renewals....
In parts of England and Wales it is quite common for the title of a property to contain a reference to the mines and minerals being excluded from the surface owner’s ownership and excepted and or reserved to another party, although it may not be shown who owns them. ...
Most potential commercial tenants will budget for what they expect to be the usual costs of taking a lease, such as the main rent, legal fees and any rent deposits required by the landlord, but often there are some hidden or unexpected costs that also need to be considered....
The slow decline of the local has been well publicised in recent years; exacerbated by the price of your pint in the pub remaining high compared with supermarket beer and food sold in pubs being subject to VAT, while food sold in supermarkets is not....
Japanese Knotweed is a fast-growing invasive species and is a significant problem because it can cause physical damage to buildings and land. It is expensive and time consuming to permanently remove. Clarkslegal was instructed on the sale of a development site which was delayed for over a year when the buyer found Japanese Knotweed on site and insisted that the seller remove it before completion. ...
One of the biggest benefits of the digital and information age has been the increased agility in carrying transactions – these are now able to take place almost instantaneously. This increased agility has brought with it the problem of increased vulnerability – especially to the risk of fraud....
The Grenfell Tower fire struck on 14 June 2017 in the 24-storey block of public housing flats in North Kensington, West London, causing at least 80 deaths and initiated a debate into fire safety and the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords. in relation to fire safety in premises, including in commercial, as well as residential, premises....
A “Protected Lease” is a lease that has the benefit of security of tenure under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (“the 1954 Act”). Only a lease which has security entitles the tenant to remain in its business premises when its lease expires and “hold over” and, except in certain circumstances, obliges the landlord to grant the tenant a new lease on updated, but generally no more onerous terms than the old lease. This note applies only to Protected Leases....
Read our useful guide dealing with the key risks that all restaurant entrepreneurs need to consider before they start trading. The top tips cover numerous risks that all commercial real estate occupiers need to consider, including public liability, key staff absence, equipment failure and cybercrime....
Read our useful guide looking at the hidden costs of taking on a new restaurant property. The tips would also be relevant to anyone taking on a commercial property and focus on business rates, service charges and energy costs amongst other things....
Read our useful guide packed full of tips for anyone looking for their first restaurant premises....
A large percentage of modern leases of business premises include break clauses and virtually all will include provisions restricting the assignment and underletting of the lease. A landlord will generally seek to control the exercise of a tenant’s break and the tenant’s right to assign or underlet its premises as far as possible without damaging any future rent review on the grounds that the lease contains onerous conditions....
Members of the Real Estate Team at Clarkslegal are often asked by clients whether a lease that has the protection of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 is more valuable than a lease which does not have the benefit of such protection....
The right to do something on someone else’s land (such as use a track or lay pipes) in perpetuity appears to be a pretty simple concept. In practice, what the law calls “easements” are more complex to define. A recent case has made the definition of what can constitute an easement wider....
Starting up your own business can be tough, but dealing with the consequences of poor planning is even tougher. Real Estate partner Simon Ralphs and Clare Garner from Prestige Business Solutions outline the top things to look out for when searching for your perfect location...
The Supreme Court recently considered whether commercial premises undergoing substantial redevelopment works had to be valued on the day of valuation for business rates as if they were still a useable office....
Property guardianship schemes have become a popular way for landlords to protect their empty properties from squatters and vandalism. For the property guardians, the schemes typically offer plentiful living space at low cost in otherwise expensive cities....
Next month sees the introduction of the Residence Nil Rate Band, offering those with children or remoter descendants who own their own property a substantial additional inheritance tax allowance....
The importance of giving accurate and full information in replies to enquiries has been underline by a recent case in which a tenant successfully counterclaimed against its landlord for the cost of remedial works for asbestos removal and associated costs of temporary accommodation....
On the surrender of a Lease, it is always necessary to consider whether any VAT will be payable on any payment made by either the Landlord or the Tenant....