Our Lease Advisory department provides a specialist range of services in connection with negotiations on commercial property leases with a particular expertise in retail, in respect of in town and out of town retail, the supermarket and leisure sectors.

Based in both our Liverpool and London offices the department has a national coverage. The department is fully integrated with our agency and investment departments so we can provide advice in the context of the wider property market.

Our services include all aspects of negotiations relating to rent reviews, lease renewals and lease restructures acting for both landlords and tenants. We regularly provide expert witness evidence in connection with commercial property rental disputes. The department also advises on all aspects of business rates including the calculation of non-domestic rate bills and appealing excessive rateable values.

Rent reviews and lease renewals

• Lease reading and interpretation;
• Rental budgetary advice;
• Strategic advice and reporting;
• Rental negotiation; and
• Presenting opinion evidence as an expert witness before third parties or Court.

Lease Restructures

• Lease reading and interpretation;
• Advice on rental value;
• Strategic advice on leasehold negotiations;
• Negotiations of revised lease terms.

Business Rates

• Analysis of business rate liability;
• Strategic advice to minimise rates liability including M.C.C. appeals and advice on empty rates liabilities;
• Lodging of appeals against rating assessments;
• Negotiating reductions in rateable values;
• Detailed knowledge of the calculation of rate liabilities and the impact of transitional relief and
• Presenting opinion evidence as an expert witness at Valuation or Lands Tribunal.