Terminating your Office Lease
Get the latest best practice Office Lease Tips on how to terminate your office lease correctly.
If you are currently in the process of negotiating your office lease you will want to make sure you have sufficient flexibility to terminate your office lease before your office lease expires. Your Property Solicitor should also make clear to you how to issue your notice to terminate your office lease so it is given at the correct time and in the correct form in accordance with your office lease.
Making sure you’ve got these legal issues covered when you move office, and before you sign your office lease, is essential to protect your business from any unnecessary costs and legal disputes during your tenure.
Here are some Office Lease Tips for tenants to be aware of when finalising the details of their office lease:
- Make sure any notice to break the office lease is issued by the appropriate person or company. For example if your office lease is held by your company, the notice will not be valid unless it is issued specifically on behalf of the company.
- The notice period will be set out in the office lease. Make sure you check the detail with your Property Solicitor so that you interpret the notice period date correctly.
- Verify what form the notice needs to be given. Usually a notice must be given in writing and some office leases specify it should be delivered by post.
- Make sure that you fully understand what your tenant’s obligations are, and you comply with them. Some office leases require that a notice to break the lease can only be given if the tenant has not breached its terms.
- It is advisable to agree the position of dilapidations (and make clear who is responsible for repairing them). You will also need evidence of the state of the premises before and during your tenure so that if a dispute arises over the sum payable for dilapidations, you have the information necessary to support your position.
Contact a Property Solicitor in your area to ensure you have all these office lease points covered and your business is protected.
If you are organising your office move, you’ll need to use the free Office Relocation Checklist to make sure nothing gets forgotten.
