Checklist · 18 checks
Commercial Lease Review Checklist
The 24 clauses we check on every commercial and retail lease before a client signs — and the traps that cost tenants the most money.
Who it's for: Tenants and landlords signing or renewing a commercial or retail lease
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The commercial basics
- Confirm the exact premises, including car parking, storage and any exclusive-use areas.
- Check the term, and whether any option to renew is properly documented with exercise dates.
- Diarise the option exercise window — miss it and the option usually lapses.
- Confirm the starting rent, review mechanism (CPI, fixed percentage or market) and review dates.
- Ask for a written outgoings estimate and check which outgoings are recoverable from you.
- Check the security required: bank guarantee, cash bond, or personal guarantee — and when it is returned.
Risk and obligations
- Check the permitted use is wide enough for how the business may change.
- Confirm who is responsible for structural repairs, air conditioning and plant.
- Read the make-good clause carefully — this is the single most expensive surprise at the end of a lease.
- Check fit-out obligations, landlord approvals and whether any contribution is offered.
- Confirm insurance obligations and required levels of public liability cover.
- Check whether the landlord can relocate you or redevelop the site during the term.
Exit and flexibility
- Check assignment and subletting rights — essential if you may sell the business.
- Confirm what the landlord can require from an incoming assignee.
- Check any demolition, termination or early-exit clause.
- Confirm whether the guarantee survives an assignment.
- For retail leases, confirm you have received the disclosure statement and the required lease copy.
- Check the dispute-resolution clause and which tribunal or court applies.
General information only, current as at 2026-09-10. It is not legal advice and does not take your circumstances into account. Nothing here creates a solicitor–client relationship.
Next step
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