Commercial Property Solicitors

Our commercial property solicitors advise both landlords and tenants on all aspects of leasehold property management, including the granting, negotiation, renewal and forfeiture of commercial leases. We also deal with ongoing lease management matters such as assignments, licences to assign, subletting, alterations, guarantees, rent deposits, Authorised Guarantee Agreements and wider Landlord and Tenant Act matters.

Our rural property and agricultural law solicitors advise on a wide range of matters affecting agricultural land, farms and rural property, including purchases and sales, farm business tenancies, rural planning and wayleave agreements. We also provide specialist advice on listed buildings, sites of special scientific interest and other issues affecting the use, management and development of rural land.

We act for developers on the acquisition and development of commercial and residential sites, providing commercially focused legal advice throughout the development process.

Our commercial property solicitors advise on negotiations with landowners, local authorities, service providers, lenders, tenants, contractors and professional consultants, helping to manage risk and ensure developments progress efficiently from site acquisition through to completion.

We advise commercial lenders, investors and developers on a wide range of commercial property finance and secured lending transactions. Our commercial property solicitors act for both lenders and borrowers in relation to investment property, development finance and secured lending arrangements, providing practical legal advice to help transactions progress efficiently and protect our clients’ commercial interests.

We act for a number of investors who acquire and dispose of investment properties. We also act for pension trustees when they decided to invest pension funds in commercial property.

We work closely with our Corporate Law team on the acquisition and disposal of companies and partnerships with property interests, advising on the property aspects of corporate transactions, including due diligence, title review and the transfer of commercial property assets.

If you or your business becomes involved in a commercial property dispute, our Business Disputes team can provide practical, commercially focused advice on a wide range of landlord and tenant, leasehold and property-related disputes.

Legal fees for commercial property transactions vary depending on the type, value and complexity of the matter. Factors such as the purchase or sale price, the nature of the property, whether finance is involved and any issues identified during due diligence can all affect costs. In addition to legal fees, there may be expenses such as search fees, Land Registry fees and other transaction-related disbursements. We will provide a clear estimate of costs at the outset after discussing your situation.

Freehold commercial property gives you ownership of both the property and the land on which it stands. Leasehold commercial property gives you the right to occupy and use the premises for a specified period under the terms of a commercial lease.

The legal and financial obligations associated with freehold and leasehold ownership can differ significantly, so it is important to understand the implications before proceeding with a commercial property transaction.

Yes, it is strongly recommended that you do. Commercial leases often contain complex provisions relating to rent reviews, repair obligations, service charges, break clauses and restrictions on use. A commercial lease solicitor can review and negotiate the lease terms, identify potential risks and ensure the lease supports your business objectives before you commit and you are legally bound by it.

The timescale for buying or leasing commercial property depends on the complexity of the transaction, the parties involved and whether any issues arise during due diligence. As a guide, commercial property purchases and commercial lease transactions typically take between 8 and 12 weeks, although more complex matters may take longer.

We work proactively with all parties involved to help transactions progress as efficiently as possible.

Commercial property searches help identify legal, environmental and practical issues that could affect the property or your intended use of it.

Depending on the transaction, searches may include:

• Local Authority Searches (which include planning application details)
• Environmental Searches
• Drainage and Water Searches
• Highways Searches
• Flood Risk Searches

Additional searches may be required depending on the location, type of property and any issues identified during title review and due diligence.

Yes, we act for property investors acquiring, managing and disposing of commercial property investments. Our commercial property solicitors advise on investment property acquisitions, disposals, refinancing arrangements, commercial leases and portfolio management, helping investors identify and manage legal risks while maximising the value of their investments.

Yes, we advise investors, businesses and landlords on the acquisition and disposal of commercial property portfolios. Portfolio transactions often involve multiple properties, tenants and funding arrangements, requiring careful due diligence and transaction management. Our commercial property solicitors provide commercially-focused advice to help clients complete portfolio transactions efficiently while protecting their long-term investment interests.