Commercial lease solicitors
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We understand that the leasing of commercial property is an important process for you and your business.
Our expert team of commercial lease lawyers will provide you with specialist support to ensure everything runs smoothly. Whether you are a landlord or tenant, it is important that you have the best commercial lease legal support when making key decisions for you and your business. At Moore Barlow, we have vast experience helping our clients negotiate a lease that works for them by providing expert and bespoke legal advice.
We appreciate that every transaction is different, and we pride ourselves on fully understanding your unique situation and the requirements you have for your commercial lease, aiming to get you the outcome you want.
What is a commercial lease?
A commercial lease is a legal contract between a landlord and tenant for renting a commercial property, such as an office, retail store, or industrial space. It outlines the terms of the rental arrangement, including rent, length of lease, and responsibilities of both parties.
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What commercial lease services do we offer?
Our commercial lease lawyers can help you in many different ways, whether it is drafting or agreeing a lease that works best for you and your business or negotiating on certain terms of the lease that you might disagree with. We can carry out a review and report on your lease to see if everything is in line with your expectations and existing legislation or carry out full due diligence on your desired property.
Do you have to use a commercial lease solicitors?
No, you do not have to hire a solicitor when considering signing for a commercial lease. However, so that you have a good understanding about what is legally expected of you as a tenant or landlord, it is advised that you seek the help of a legal professional.
Why Moore Barlow?
Our talented team of commercial lease solicitors can be with you every step of the way, whether you are taking on a lease or need help managing your commercial property. We can be by your side every step of the way, so that you feel that your investment is secure and that you have the right resources at your disposal.
With offices in London, Richmond, Southampton, Guildford, Lymington and Woking, we’re ideally placed to offer specialist real estate support on a local and national level.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a solicitor to assign a commercial lease?
Yes, a solicitor is highly recommended when assigning a commercial lease. They ensure the assignment complies with lease terms, handle negotiations, draft necessary documents, and help obtain landlord consent, protecting you from future liabilities and ensuring a smooth, legally sound transfer.
What to consider in a commercial lease agreement?
When entering into a new commercial lease, there are several key points to consider to protect your interests and ensure the lease aligns with your business needs:
- Understand the length of the lease, any break clauses allowing early exit, and renewal options.
- Confirm the rent amount, frequency of payment, and any rent review provisions, such as market reviews or fixed increases.
- Clarify who is responsible for repairs and maintenance. A full repairing and insuring (FRI) lease may mean the tenant covers all costs, including structural repairs.
- Ensure the lease specifies permitted uses of the property that align with your business activities and future plans.
- Review any service charges for shared facilities, along with insurance, taxes, and other additional costs you may be responsible for.
- Check if you’re allowed to make changes or improvements to the property and whether landlord consent is required.
- Understand the rules around assigning the lease or subletting, including any restrictions and requirements for landlord approval.
- Confirm whether you have security of tenure under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, granting the right to renew the lease unless excluded in the agreement.
- Be aware of dispute resolution procedures and conditions for lease forfeiture in case of breach, as well as your rights to remedy issues.
- It’s advisable to consult a solicitor and surveyor to ensure the lease terms are fair, legally sound, and align with your business objectives.
These considerations will help you negotiate a lease that suits your business needs and protects your interests.
What is forfeiture of commercial lease?
Forfeiture of a commercial lease is the legal right of a landlord to terminate the lease early if the tenant breaches the lease terms, such as failing to pay rent or violating use restrictions. Forfeiture allows the landlord to regain possession of the property.
However, the process requires strict adherence to legal procedures, often including serving notice to the tenant, and may allow the tenant an opportunity to remedy the breach to avoid eviction.
Meet our team of commercial property solicitors
Julian Parkes
Partner | Real estate, Commercial property, Landed estates and farming
Nellie van der Lande
Senior associate | Commercial property, Rural services
Sharon Mays
Senior associate | Real estate, Commercial property, Land development
Nicola Donnelly
Associate | Real estate, Plot sales, Residential property
Fiona Hampton
Chartered legal executive | Commercial property, Land development, Plot sales
Helen Archibald
Consultant | Real estate, Commercial property, Land development
Janice Taylor
Conveyancing executive | Real estate, Plot sales, Residential property
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Don’t take our word for it…
Moore Barlow stepped into the breach at a time when we were undertaking the biggest property transaction in our history. They were nothing but highly professional, available, helpful and patient.
Legal 500, 2025
The commercial property team are extremely pragmatic and always work in the best interest of the client. The people are all knowledgeable and hardworking. They are able to translate complex legalese into plain English.
Legal 500, 2025
As our own business moves from start-up to growth mode, Moore Barlow have continued to scale and develop their service proportionally to meet our developing needs. They continue to adapt to our new systems, work collaboratively with us to ensure transparency in matters, and increase pace in delivery. We look forward to continuing to do business with them in the coming years.
Legal 500, 2024
Moore Barlow is known for residential and commercial development expertise. The firm continues to act for national and regional house builders, and it is also equipped to handle property finance, landlord and tenant matters and investment work. Its clients also benefit from the firm’s knowledge of agricultural property. In addition, the team is noted for its expertise in property transactions in the leisure industry.
Chambers & Partners, 2024
Moore Barlow’s property partners have an in-depth understanding of their area backed by familiarity with their clients and their businesses gained over decades of experience.
Chambers & Partners, 2024
The team’s focus on our needs and responsiveness makes it feel like we have in-house legal counsel. We have several active matters at any one time, and they have worked with us to develop continually-improving management systems to ensure everyone is up to date with what is happening.
Legal 500, 2023
We have had an incredibly positive experience working with Moore Barlow, especially considering that we are new to the UK property market. Their responsiveness, extensive knowledge, and clear communication have truly made them stand out. We were impressed by their considerate approach throughout the sales process, which made the entire experience feel both professional and personable. I highly recommend Moore Barlow for their exceptional service and unwavering commitment to client satisfaction.
Emma Plumridge – BoKlok Sales and Marketing Director
A competent, professional organisation that we are grateful to have on our side. The Moore Barlow team have proved patient, and highly flexible, supporting us as we develop our acquisition strategy, and dealing efficiently with the many landlords’ solicitors that are not normally comfortable with our market. For us, the biggest plus is that we can be confident that, where matters are dragging on, it is the landlord that we need to be chasing, not Moore Barlow. They work very well with us to ensure that they/we are never holding up a transaction, and so together we demonstrate absolute professionalism.
Legal 500, 2022
From our numerous dealings with the firm there is clear evidence of a team spirit. Each member of the team works to a high standard and you have confidence with whoever you are dealing with that the task will get done. They are always helpful and will go out of their way to answer any queries we may have.