Lease, Rent & Tenancy

What this covers

We draft and vet agreements for letting land, homes, shops and commercial space: the rent and how it changes, the term and renewal, the deposit, repairs and use, and what happens on default or at the end. A clear agreement is what keeps a tenancy out of court.

For landlords

We draft leases that state the rent and increases, secure the deposit, define permitted use, and set clean terms for ending the tenancy and recovering possession. A vague or verbal arrangement is what makes a bad tenant hard to remove.

For tenants

We review what you are asked to sign so you are not caught by a one-sided term: an unfair increase, a deposit you cannot recover, a repair burden that should not be yours, or an eviction clause with no notice. For long leases we advise on registration, which protects your interest.

Registration and long leases

Short tenancies often run on an unregistered agreement, but longer leases should be registered to be fully enforceable and to bind future owners. We advise on when registration is needed and handle it.

What we need

• The owner’s title or authority to let
• Details of the parties and the property
• The commercial terms: rent, deposit, term, use
• Any existing agreement being renewed or replaced

How long it takes

A lease or tenancy agreement can usually be drafted or reviewed within a few days. A registered long lease takes a little longer because of the registration step.