News

Many business owners are unaware that they have to reinstate, repair and re-decorate their commercial property at the end of their lease, or pay the landlord to do it, and end up with a surprise bill, says GJS Dillon Director of Building Surveying Services Mark Davies.

These legal repairing obligations, known as dilapidations, can run into tens of the thousands of pounds.  The best way to limit your liability for dilapidations is to agree a “Schedule of Condition” prior to commencement of any lease.

This is a document drawn up by a Building Surveyor which documents in words and digital images, the internal and external condition of premises at the outset of a lease, to ensure that the tenants’ responsibilities are to return the premises to their equivalent state at termination of the lease.

It’s often cheaper to carry out repairs yourself and on an on-going basis, rather than complete all works at the end of the lease.  Ask your Building Surveyor to draw up a planned maintenance schedule to cover the length of your lease.

If you do not have an agreed Schedule of Condition you may be landed with a bill from your landlord for ALL repairs to the premises, not just those you thought you were responsible for.  If this does happen, a Building Surveyor may help you reduce these by negotiation.

For further information, take a look at https://gjsdillon.co.uk/services/surveys/ or contact  Mark Davies on tel. 01905 676169.