Commercial Property Knowledge & Resources

Heads of terms are principles usually agreed between a buyer and a sellers’ agent before lawyers are instructed. They set out the basis of the property transaction in broad terms.

Business rates are charged if the building or part of it is being used for non-domestic purposes, for example offices, factories, pubs and shops. Business rates are set by the local council for the following tax year, usually in February or March.

It is important to instruct a property lawyer early on, particularly if selling a business property. A lawyer can identify and resolve any issues before they are picked up by the buyer, reducing delays and even abortive transactions.

There is a substantial amount of pre-work that can be carried out by a property lawyer before a buyer is found. For example, the contract pack along with replies to standard enquiries can be prepared and even standard searches of the property obtained. These could then be sent out as soon as a buyer is found, potentially saving several weeks and even months of time. This would all lead to a smoother and more cost effective transaction for both parties.

The buyer and seller cannot sign an election unless they know what capital allowances are available which may need specialist advice and (if allowances have not previously been claimed) may take some weeks or months to assess.

The loss of capital allowances may devalue the property and adversely affect its sale and as a result if these are identified in the transaction or if you are a seller, then you should consult your accountant.

The buyer of a commercial property should arrange a survey of the property to establish its general state and condition. The seller is under no obligation to inform the buyer of any defects, so the onus is on the buyer to discover them.

It is not always clear when commercial property is advertised if there is any VAT payable on the sale price This can add 20% (at current rates) to the sale price so it is important to check this early on in a transaction. The buyer should raise this with the seller’s agents before putting in an offer.

If the property has been elected for VAT purposes, then it must be charged on the sale price because, otherwise the seller would have to account for the VAT themselves. This is a different process from ordinary trading VAT registration. If the seller is not aware of the situation, their accountant may know or their lawyer can investigate this with HMRC on their behalf.

Capital allowances can be offset against income tax and are available for specific kinds of capital expenditure effectively spreading the offset over many years.

You will need to give not less than 6 months’ notice and not more than 12 months’ notice pursuant to section 25 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. This notice cannot end earlier than the end of the contractual term of the lease, unless you have a break clause.

Yes. When serving a section 25 notice you must specify whether or not you oppose the grant of a new lease. This will affect the form of notice that will be given.

You can only oppose the grant of a new lease on the grounds set out in section 30(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. These grounds are limited and include both fault grounds (such as persistent delay in paying rent and the tenant’s failure to comply with their obligations regarding repair and maintenance of the premises) and non-fault grounds (such as demolition and reconstruction of the premises).

If you wish to oppose the grant of a new lease on one or more of the grounds set out in section 30(1) of the Act, you must serve a counter-notice within 2 months of the tenant’s request for a new tenancy.

Yes, but only in certain circumstances. A tenant will be entitled to statutory compensation at one or two times the rateable value of the demised premises if the court is unable to grant a new tenancy to the tenant by reason of any of the non-fault grounds specified in section 30(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, or in circumstances where you have served a section 25 notice or a counter-notice specifying only non-fault grounds as the reasons for your opposition to a new tenancy and no application is made to the Court or an application is made to the Court and is withdrawn.