Commercial premises law

Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.

Choosing premises for your business doesn't just mean finding the right space in the right location - you also need to think about lease terms.

Getting out of a lease if your property requirements change while you are leasing commercial premises can leave you in a difficult situation.

The rent review provisions of a typical lease can present a major headache if you suddenly find yourself faced with a substantial rent increase.

A planned maintenance program for managing your premises can help minimise damage and the costs of repairs for your business premises.

If you are building or altering commercial premises, or changing the way you use them, you may need planning permission or building consent - or both.

Buying premises may be one of the largest investments you make in your business. Understand the process and have all the legal bases covered.

Rent reviews and business rates revaluations can cost you money. How to judge whether an increase is reasonable, and how to challenge an increase.

Rent reviews are a mechanism for adjusting a tenant’s rent to the current market level. You negotiate a rent review with your landlord.

Most businesses rent their premises, either through a lease or a licence, as it's flexible and ties up minimal capital. Our guide to what to consider.

If you lease business premises, understand your responsibilities for maintenance and repairs - they should be clearly set out in the lease.

Commonhold schemes are intended for commercial and residential multi-occupancy properties with extensive common facilities and structures.

Commercial tenants with older leases wanting to sublet can find their lease tricky to get out of. Find out how to overcome these problems.

If you want to get out of a lease, perhaps because you have found great new permises or you can no longer afford your existing property, but need to get out of your existing lease, what are your options? Know the barriers and how to overcome them.

There is no automatic right to get out of a lease just because the rent has increased. Review the options if you can no longer afford your rent.

Most planning applications are submitted online. Use the tool on the Planning Portal website to apply to every local authority in England and Wales.

Visit the Government’s Planning Portal website to calculate the fees for any planning application you’re considering in England.

When taking on business premises, key issues you may face are choosing premises, negotiating a lease, challenging dilapidations claims, sub-letting.

Self-assessment tool for businesses which use surveillance cameras to help them comply with Data Protection Rules

Moving into licensed property is easier, quicker and cheaper than taking on a lease or buying a freehold property. Our overview of premises licences.