The law that applies here
Business tenancies here are governed by Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. Unless the lease was contracted out, you have security of tenure: the tenancy continues after the contractual expiry date and can only be ended by a Section 25 notice from the landlord or a Section 26 request from you. Interim rent under Section 24A runs from the earliest date the notice could have specified.
Local market context
Prime West End retail has held up while secondary pitches have not, so a landlord quoting Oxford Street or Bond Street evidence against a unit two streets away needs testing hard on pitch, footfall and unit configuration.
The City and Docklands office markets remain sharply two-tier: fitted, well-rated space lets quickly at strong headlines with long rent frees, while older secondary floors need heavy incentives. Analysing to net effective rent is essential before any comparable means anything.
London hospitality rents are trade-driven, and delivery volumes, late licences and outside seating rights materially affect what a site can support.
Pitches and markets covered
- West End — Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street and the Covent Garden estate
- City and Docklands offices
- Shoreditch, Soho and Clerkenwell food and beverage
- Suburban high streets and district centres across the Greater London boroughs
Specialist advice for London tenants
The detail of each subject sits on its own page: commercial rent reviews, lease renewals and commercial dilapidations, the landlord's Section 25 notice and the tenant's Section 26 request. This page covers what is specific to the London market.
End-of-lease claims in the capital are dealt with on the same tenant-only basis — see commercial dilapidations surveyor for schedules, quantified demands and the Section 18 cap.
Common questions
Do London rent reviews work differently?
The law is the same as elsewhere in England and Wales. What differs is the volume and complexity of evidence: incentive packages are larger, so analysing headline deals down to an effective rent matters more than almost anywhere else.
Can you act for a single London site?
Yes. Instructions range from one shop or restaurant through to national portfolios with London exposure. Initial advice on a lease, notice or schedule is free.
Relevant guides
- Commercial Rent Review SurveyorChartered surveyor acting for tenants at commercial rent review — evidence, negotiation, arbitration and expert determination across the UK and Ireland.
- Lease Renewal SurveyorTenant-side lease renewal surveyor: 1954 Act renewals, notices, terms and rent negotiated and, where needed, contested through the courts.
- Section 25 NoticeReceived a Section 25 notice? What it means, the difference between friendly and hostile notices, the deadlines that bind you and how to respond.
- Retail Lease RenewalRetail lease renewal advice for shop, leisure and F&B tenants: rent, term, break rights, service charge and portfolio strategy on the high street.
- Commercial Dilapidations Surveyor for TenantsTenant-side commercial dilapidations advice from an MRICS chartered surveyor: schedules, quantified demands, the Section 18 cap, the Protocol, Scott Schedules and settlement.
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