If you are taking a new lease on a commercial property you want to make sure, first and foremost, that you can afford not only the rent but also the rates, bills and other charges as well as the upkeep. Speak to your financial expert about your business and financial projections to be sure that you are not taking on a premises that results in a hefty burden on your turnover.
Next, find a solicitor who specialises in commercial property leases. They will help with all the legal aspects of the lease, including the permitted use and making sense of all the repair clauses.
Once this is done there is another step before you sign the lease. Most leases require that when your occupation finishes you have to return the property in at least as good a state of repair as when you found it. Unfortunately, if no-one has kept a detailed record of the condition of the property at the start of the lease you will be liable for all repairs, including problems that were there when you first occupied. These repairs will all be highlighted in the Schedule of Dilapidations which will be commissioned by the landlord at the end of the lease (which you will probably have to pay for).
To make sure you are not liable for a new roof, when the roof was on its last legs when you first took it on, you and your landlord need to agree on the condition at the start of the lease. For this you will need a Schedule of Condition.
Once the Schedule of Condition has been presented and agreed upon you will not become unfairly liable for all repairs, only those caused by you while you occupied the property.
Contact Us
Simply complete the form below and one of our friendly team will be in touch to discuss your survey options.
Client Testimonials
Ben Green24 May 2023Having used Paul's services for a survey on our upcoming listed building purchase I can assure you that you will get the most thorough, professional and helpful service that you could wish for. The report tallied over 100 pages covering all aspects of the house, walls, frames, windows, roof space, drainage, outbuildings, render, roof tiles, water tanks, electrics, insulation, listed building consent, health and safety and much more. Not only that but Paul's report also told us how to best maintain the house going forwards, using what materials and how often things need doing. This was most definitely worth every penny and has allowed us to make an informed decision on the purchase going forwards. A+ rating from me!
James Marron19 May 2023I could not recommend Paul Gowers highly enough. Excellent service and a very comprehensive, clear report. An extremely knowledgeable and helpful professional.
Brian Scull15 September 2021I have just had a Survey completed by Gowers of Stamford. I have to say that the team there are superb. From the first contact with Catherine who was courteous, professional and helpful and who also arranged everything. To the surveyor Paul who was marvellous, the report was clear and well presented and easy to understand. Paul was extremely helpful and prepared to spend time discussing all the sections and any issues i had.He was very professional and a pleasure to deal with. I don’t normally do revues but felt compelled on this occasion because they deserve enormous praise and i would thoroughly recommend them.
Cameron Bauldry7 July 2021I needed a building survey doing at short notice after red flags were raised once receiving searches and the sellers paperwork back. Unfortunately Gowers and everyone else I checked with were all booked up for months however Paul took time out of his busy day to speak to me, listen to my situation and provide me with some fantastic advice which I very much appreciate. He is very knowledgeable and the advice given has helped me in the next steps of my house purchase. Thank you again.
Neil Crees18 March 2021The value of using Paul, a local well known professional, was huge. I received immediate personal feedback allowing me to take timely action to avoid what could have been an expensive mistake.
Sam Paul10 December 2019We engaged Gowers to carry out a building survey for an old residential property with multiple issues. Paul Gowers was excellent in his response time to our questions and the level of professional reporting. The service we received was reassuring for us and we would certainly use Gowers again.
Mandy Ingram6 June 2018We recently used Gowers Surveyors for a building project involving the Party Wall Act. It was applicable on both boundaries and Paul acted as Agreed Surveyor on one side and Building Owner Surveyor on the other. The build itself was fairly straight forward, but the Party Wall process was definitely not... Paul is the consummate professional. Knowledgeable, reliable, calm and level headed he always made himself available whether in person or at the end of a phone or email to ourselves and our contractors. The project lasted 8 months and he continued to deliver the highest level of professionalism and advice throughout. Cannot recommend him highly enough!
Interested in our services?
Request a free no obligation quote today