Strategic Legal Advice for Landlords, Tenants and Property Investors
At First Law Solicitors, we provide clear, practical and commercially focused advice on every aspect of commercial leasing. Whether you are a landlord granting a lease, a tenant negotiating terms or an investor managing property portfolios, we ensure your lease agreements protect your assets and long term interests.
Based in Manchester and advising clients throughout England and Wales, our solicitors combine legal precision with a commercial understanding of the property market. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID No: 665823).
We act for landlords, tenants and corporate occupiers in all sectors including retail, manufacturing, healthcare, technology and logistics. Our solicitors draft, review and negotiate lease agreements that minimise risk and deliver certainty.
Our approach is strategic and proactive, ensuring every clause, covenant and break right supports your commercial objectives.
We prepare comprehensive commercial lease agreements tailored to your needs. Every lease complies with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and the Land Registration Act 2002, while incorporating the Law Commission’s 2025 Interim Proposals for reform. These proposals may replace contracting out with a contracting in model from 2026. Our solicitors future proof your lease against upcoming legislative change.
Before signing, we perform detailed lease reviews to identify hidden liabilities. We analyse rent review clauses, repair obligations, insurance provisions and service charge terms. As of 31 December 2025, our reviews follow the RICS Professional Statement: Service Charges in Commercial Property (2025 Edition), ensuring digital ready transparency, segregated client accounts and verifiable cost recovery.
When your business relocates or restructures, we manage assignments, subletting and surrenders efficiently. We ensure full compliance with consent procedures, landlord covenants and registration rules to avoid disputes or delays.
We advise tenants from negotiation through renewal or termination. Our team secures rent free periods, caps service charges and negotiates early exit terms that support flexibility and growth.
We start by understanding your property goals and negotiating position. Whether acquiring, granting or renewing a lease, we assess risk, timescale and value impact.
We prepare or review heads of terms and leases, negotiating balanced wording to secure favourable outcomes.
Our solicitors check title, planning permissions, compliance certificates and registration details to ensure smooth completion. With Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) accepted by HM Land Registry since August 2025, deeds can now be executed digitally without witnesses, reducing the signing to registration period from weeks to hours.
We handle Land Registry filings, SDLT submissions and statutory registrations, and continue to advise on renewals, rent reviews and alterations throughout the lease term.
Lease Registration Threshold
Under the Land Registration Act 2002, commercial leases exceeding seven years must be registered. We manage all SDLT and Land Registry formalities promptly to prevent penalties.
Break Clauses and Rent Reviews
Recent 2024 High Court cases confirm that break notices must be served strictly under lease terms. We prepare compliant notices to safeguard termination rights.
Green Lease and MEES Compliance
All commercial properties let from 2025 must hold an EPC rating of Band E or above, rising to Band C by April 2027. We audit portfolios and draft clauses ensuring landlords and tenants meet these energy efficiency standards within the required timeframe.
Service Charge Transparency: All our leases comply with the new RICS 2025 Service Charge Standard, guaranteeing full digital cost visibility and separate service charge bank accounts.
QES Completion Advantage: Our witness free digital completion process enables registration within hours, not weeks.
2027 EPC Buffer: We are assisting clients now to achieve Band C EPC ratings ahead of the April 2027 deadline, protecting asset value and lettability.
1954 Act Modernisation: We are guiding landlords and tenants through the Law Commission’s ongoing reform programme to ensure every new agreement remains compliant with future contracting in requirements.
Retail Property Portfolio
Completed multiple retail leases for a national brand in three weeks, securing early fit out access and reduced deposits.
Industrial Lease Surrender
Negotiated complete lease surrender, saving over £250,000 in rent and dilapidations.
Tenant Lease Renewal
Acted for a logistics company renewing under the 1954 Act, achieving a 10 percent rent reduction and improved renewal terms.
If you are negotiating, reviewing or ending a commercial lease, contact First Law Solicitors for trusted, results driven legal support.
We act for UK and international clients with professionalism, efficiency and absolute attention to detail.
📞 Call 0044 161 224 4066
🖋 Complete our online enquiry form to arrange a confidential consultation.
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