An increasing number of organisations have business models that depend on the fast and reliable delivery of orders to customers in a limited geographic area, for example, Greater London or Liverpool City Centre. These businesses offer delivery of a range of goods including groceries, meals, drinks, laundry, clothing and gifts within a very short timeframe. Speed to process, prepare and fulfil orders is therefore crucial, and this often requires a local warehouse or fulfilment centre to provide the necessary storage space and capability to deliver orders to customers efficiently and cost-effectively.
Customer Review: ‘James was excellent. Thorough, helpful and very professional throughout. Fees were made clear from the beginning and no hidden extras.’
Is Legal Advice Necessary for Taking on a Lease?
As a consequence of growing demand for super-fast delivery, the rental market for small and medium-sized warehouses and fulfilment centres dotted in and around city centres has grown substantially in recent years. Advice from a commercial property solicitor with expertise in leases for this type of business can be critical in preventing unwelcome surprises for the tenant down the line. The law relating to warehousing and order fulfilment centres differs in certain aspects from that affecting, for example, factories and workshops, as do many of the practical requirements of owners and operators.
Negotiating Lease Terms
Our commercial property team can assist with all aspects of leasing a warehouse or fulfilment centre, including agreeing a new lease, transferring (assigning) an existing lease, renewing a lease and buying a commercial property or business outright. We can help draw up and negotiate heads of terms with landlords which is crucial in establishing a tenant’s rights and responsibilities such as break clauses, rent-free periods, service charges and repair obligations, all of which need to be carefully evaluated and drafted to suit the tenant’s needs. To take one example, landlords should normally be responsible for the repair of structural and external parts of a warehouse, but sometimes seek to include at least part of the cost in the annual service charge.
Property Searches and Enquiries
Apart from agreeing the heads of terms and completing the lease, a number of checks, searches and enquiries will need to be carried out to establish, among other things, the landlord’s title to the property, its planning status, access rights, the provision of basic services and any other issues affecting the tenant’s intended use of the premises. The commercial property team at Bartletts can advise and support clients in every aspect of getting a warehouse or fulfilment centre up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible – and with the minimum of fuss.
Make an enquiry today
For further information or advice about any aspect of Commercial Conveyancing please, contact Bartletts Solicitors today on Freephone 0800 988 3674, or Chester 01244 313 301 email advice@bartletts.co.uk or complete the free enquiry below:
