Renewal of Commercial Lease

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, our expert property solicitors can provide legal advice and assistance with the renewal of a commercial property lease. Our affordable fixed-fee conveyancing solicitors offer commercial lease renewal and extension services to both Landlords and Tenants nationwide.

We provide you with the information you need to ensure you renew your lease quickly with terms that will support your commercial ambitions.

Need legal help with the renewal of a commercial lease in the UK? Our experienced commercial property lease solicitor can provide legal assistance.

Can a landlord initiate a lease renewal?

As a landlord, you can initiate a commercial lease renewal process by serving a 'Section 25' notice on your tenant. The landlord needs to serve this notice between 6-12 months before the termination date specified in the commercial lease.

If the lease is holding over, you must state a date in the future which is at least 6 months after the notice has been served.

Can a tenant initiate a lease renewal?

As a tenant, you can initiate a commercial lease renewal process by serving a 'Section 26' notice on your tenant. The tenant needs to serve this notice between 6-12 months before the proposed start date of the new lease.

Your landlord can refuse to renew your lease if:

• you're in breach of your obligations (for example, you've not paid your rent)
• they want to use the premises themselves, for their business, or to live there

Does a commercial lease automatically renew?

The tenant has no automatic right to renew the lease. A strict procedure must be followed prior to contracting out a lease, but once this has been completed, the tenant is obliged to vacate the commercial premises at the end of the term specified in the lease.

Tenants ending a commercial property lease early

As a tenant, you can also end your lease early if:

• the landlord agrees
• you pass the lease on to someone else (though the landlord may want you to provide a guarantee)
• you’re allowed to sublet (you'll still remain responsible for the rent, even if you're not trading from the premises)

If these situations don't apply you must continue to pay rent for the whole tenancy period.

Landlords ending a commercial property lease early

As a landlord, you can only end a lease when the tenant fails to pay rent or meet other lease obligations.

If you have included a 'forfeiture clause' in the lease, you can use it in these situations to end the lease. However, if the tenant can challenge this in court they may be allowed to stay in the property.