Nov 21
With the UK economy having undergone the largest contraction in living memory, disputes between landlords and tenants are increasing as pressure mounts on commercial occupiers to find ways to diversify and cut overheads in order to adapt and survive in a post-Covid economy.
Government restrictions, the move towards remote working and growth in online shopping have put many commercial tenants under intense strain. As a result, we have seen an increasing trend in landlords being pushed hard to agree to lease concessions and changes to contractual obligations, some of which are quite controversial. Strained relationships are leading to disputes which need to be addressed quickly to avoid matters getting out of hand.
Types of commercial lease disputes
Aside from non-payment of rent, numerous disagreements are beginning to emerge over commercial leases including:
What landlords need to consider
It is undeniable that many tenants have, and some still are, suffering extreme hardship for reasons entirely beyond their control. However, it is also the case that some tenants are struggling because of poor business decisions and general mismanagement. Therefore, when considering a tenant’s position, it is important for a landlord to be clear about the reason why a particular request is being made or a certain stance is being taken, and what the likely consequences will be in the event that a deal cannot be done.
For example, if a tenant asks to surrender its lease and agrees to pay 50 per cent of what they owe because they maintain that this is all they can afford, thought needs to be given to what the alternatives might be if the request is declined. Is the landlord likely to recover everything that is due? Or is it more probable that this will risk making or contributing to the tenant’s insolvency.
Assessing the landlord’s exposure can be challenging, and seeking legal advice at this early stage on the following issues can be highly advantageous:
Proper advice can also help the landlord consider its own financial and commercial needs and whether accepting a tenant’s proposal might in any way risk jeopardising its own position or viability, given the extreme pressure which may landlords have also been under.
Options for resolving a dispute regarding a commercial lease
There are a number of ways in which a commercial property dispute can be resolved, some of which necessitate going to court and some of which do not. Deciding which option is right for you requires careful consideration and a review of your lease terms, as this may prescribe the approach that you and your tenant are expected to take.
Direct negotiation
The easiest and cheapest way to resolve a property dispute is through direct negotiation between a landlord and tenant, which continues until you reach an acceptable agreement. In many cases it will be beneficial to seek legal advice to provide you with ongoing advice in order to ensure that you do not agree to something you might later regret. For example, some things may no longer be appropriate as the economic climate changes.
Mediation
Where direct negotiation fails, it may be useful for the landlord and tenant to agree to refer your dispute to an independent mediator whose role would be to try to help you broker a deal that works for both parties in the short, medium, and longer term.
The mediator is not there to tell the parties who they think is in the right and who they think is in the wrong, but rather to support them in finding a commercially acceptable way in which the disagreement might sensibly and realistically be resolved.
The process is non-binding and voluntary (unless made mandatory by the lease) and is a frequent feature in most tenancies to encourage disputes to be resolved outside of court.
Arbitration
In some cases, it may be appropriate for a dispute to be referred to an impartial arbitrator who has the power to impose an enforceable decision on the parties in much the same way as a judge, but without the need for you to issue legal proceedings.
Apart from in some circumstances relating to rent arrears built up as a result of mandated business closures during the pandemic which fall within a new binding arbitration process, as with mediation, the process is voluntary unless prescribed by the lease and will result in you being bound by the decision that is made. This gives parties the reassurance of knowing that the dispute will be resolved and is generally quicker than if you were to go to court.
Many commercial leases contain arbitration clauses, particularly for the resolution of rent and service charge disputes.
Court action
Where everything else fails, it might be that you are left with no option but to go to court. However, before committing to this, it is important to think about what you are trying to achieve and whether legal action is the best way to do this, given the risk that a judge may side with the other side thus exposing yourself to significant delays and costs.
That said, court action will almost certainly be required where your objective is to recover possession of the property and where you cannot effect forfeiture by peaceable re-entry or where you are dealing with a lease that has the benefit of 1954 Act protection.
Further information
If you need help to resolve a business dispute relating to your commercial property lease or rent arrears, please contact Matthew Hill on 01423 566666 or matthew.hill@raworths.co.uk to see how we can help.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.
Published on 18 November 2021
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