Legal Services
Existing or draft lease review
We are trained and experienced in reading lease agreements and interpreting the appropriate recoverability of service charge and other building costs.
We can advise you on proposed service charge provisions in draft leases to identify potential irrecoverable costs and proposed wording to improve lease provisions in your favour, such as:
Repairing and maintenance provisions for the building fabric, M&E plant and lifts.
The range of service contracts that should be included.
The appropriateness of fund provisions.
Apportionment basis.
Access provisions.
Dilapidations provisions.
The accuracy of common parts and demised premises definitions.
Any additional heads of expenditure that should be included or removed.
Conveyancing Assistance
Many leases are generic and do not correspond well with the building specifics.
We can undertake an assessment of the lease, visit the building and advise on the appropriateness of the proposed lease drafting. Therefore, we can ensure that our advice is tailored to your specific needs at the proposed building.
This could be undertaken at the same time as a condition survey of the demised space to capture the condition prior to the commencement of the lease.
Dispute Resolution
Our team of experts can assist the resolution of service charge disputes. We can act as mediators to help disputing parties reach settlements or as independent experts jointly appointed by the disputing parties to determine the most equitable solution. Our team are ideally placed and trained for the role required.
We work with landlord's or tenant's solicitors to advise on service charges and other technical matters. Often our condition surveys of mechanical and electrical equipment or building fabric are necessary to assist the resolution of technically disputed matters and cost recovery in accordance with lease provisions.
This can often aid the recoverability of service charge costs including major refurbishment proposals and unexpected balancing charges.