Renewing a Commercial Lease Solicitors
If your commercial lease is approaching its expiry and you need to secure a new tenancy or manage the renewal process, our solicitors, with over 25 years of experience in commercial lease renewals across Greater London, can help.
The end of a commercial lease in England and Wales is a point at which a tenant’s right to remain in their business premises can be preserved or lost. The statutory process under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 governs renewals for business tenants and is procedurally precise: a missed deadline or incorrectly served notice can have consequences that are difficult or impossible to reverse.
At Law Lane Solicitors, we act for both landlords and tenants. This means we understand the full strategic picture, including the grounds on which a landlord can resist renewal and the steps a tenant should take to preserve their position. When parties cannot agree on terms and court proceedings are required, our in-house advocacy capability enables us to represent clients without engaging external counsel.
Our Lexcel accreditation from the Law Society of England and Wales, and our 4.95 review rating from over 1,200 reviews, reflect our high standard of work. We give clients a realistic timetable, keep them informed at every stage, and ensure the legal work does not become the bottleneck in the transaction.
What does our commercial lease renewal service cover?
Commercial lease renewals in England and Wales are governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, which gives qualifying business tenants the right to a new tenancy when the current term ends. Our team advises and acts for landlords and tenants on section 25 and section 26 notices, renewal negotiations, opposed renewals, compensation claims, interim rent applications, and court proceedings where parties cannot reach agreement.
- Advising tenants on their security of tenure rights under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, including whether their lease qualifies for statutory protection.
- Reviewing and serving section 26 notices on behalf of tenants requesting a new tenancy under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, ensuring correct form and timescales.
- Reviewing and serving section 25 notices on behalf of landlords, whether opposing renewal or proposing terms for a new tenancy.
- Negotiating the terms of the new lease, including rent, lease length, permitted use, break rights, and repairing obligations.
- Renewal proceedings in the County Court or High Court, where parties cannot agree on the terms of the new tenancy.
- Opposed renewals, advising landlords on the statutory grounds under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 on which they may oppose the grant of a new tenancy, including redevelopment and own occupation.
- Compensation claims, advising tenants on their right to compensation where a landlord successfully opposes renewal on a no-fault ground.
- Contracted-out tenancies, advising parties approaching the end of a lease granted outside the 1954 Act on what happens next.
- Interim rent applications, advising on the rent payable during the period between expiry of the old lease and commencement of the new one.
- Surrender of the existing tenancy, where a renewal is not proceeding and both parties agree to bring the tenancy to an end.
Get in touch
Our commercial lease renewal team is ready to advise you today. Renewal timescales under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 are strict, and early advice gives you the best chance of securing the outcome you need. Please phone: 020 7870 4870 or email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk to make an appointment.
Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
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Frequently Asked Questions –
Renewing a Commercial Leases
Does my business lease renew automatically?
A business lease protected by Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 does not end automatically when the fixed term expires. The lease continues on the same terms until brought to an end in one of the ways specified by the Act. Leases contracted out of the Act at the outset end on the date stated in the lease, with no right to remain.
What is a section 25 notice?
A section 25 notice is a formal notice served by a landlord under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 to bring a continuation tenancy to an end. The notice must state whether the landlord is willing to grant a new tenancy and, if not, on which statutory ground renewal is being opposed. A section 25 notice must give a minimum of six months and a maximum of twelve months’ notice and must be in the prescribed form.
What is a section 26 notice?
A section 26 notice is a formal request made by a tenant under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 for the grant of a new tenancy. A section 26 notice allows the tenant to control the timeline of the renewal process. The notice must give at least six months’ and no more than twelve months’ notice of the proposed start date of the new tenancy.
On what grounds can a landlord oppose a lease renewal?
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 sets out seven grounds on which a landlord may oppose the grant of a new tenancy. Those grounds include the tenant’s failure to repair, persistent delay in paying rent, substantial breaches of other covenants, the availability of suitable alternative accommodation, the landlord’s intention to demolish or reconstruct the premises, and the landlord’s intention to occupy the premises for their own business.
What happens if we cannot agree on the terms of the new lease?
If the parties cannot agree on the terms of the new tenancy, either party may apply to the County Court for a judge to determine the terms. The court will fix the rent at the open market level and determine the other terms by reference to the existing tenancy and current market practice. Most renewals are settled by negotiation before a hearing is required.
Can a landlord increase the rent on renewal?
Yes, the rent for a new tenancy is assessed at the open market level as of the date of renewal, based on a new letting on the terms of the new tenancy. Evidence of comparable lettings in the area is central to the valuation. We work with specialist surveyors where the rental value is contested.
What is interim rent?
Interim rent is the rent payable by the tenant from the date the continuation tenancy is brought to an end under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 until the start of the new lease. Interim rent is calculated at the open market rental value. Either party can apply to the court for interim rent to be determined.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation for lease renewal matters. At that meeting, we review the existing lease, advise on the renewal position, and give a clear costs estimate. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to arrange a time.
Commercial Conveyancing Team
Saghir Ahmad
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Brian Hoffman
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Amrit Kaur Grewal
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Ata Ur Rahman
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Ganga Gunatilake
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Adedamola Adedeji
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Kainaat Malik
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Rahat Ara Gitu
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Amina Aziz
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Esra Demirtas
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Farzana Mohammed
Trainee SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Christian O. Nwaorah
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Hafza Hassan
Trainee SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Hina Latif
Legal Consultant / RFLView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Aiziya Khan
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sanushi Sumaya Hemantha
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Syed Umer Ali
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