Commercial Property Law

Alan Moran is Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Law, University of Essex. He was previously at the University of Sheffield where he taught on the LPC and prior to that was in practice with a national firm of solicitors specialising in commercial property.

• PrefaceTable of casesTable of statutesTable of statutory instrumentsTable of abbreviationsINTRODUCTION:Meaning of commercial propertyCommercial property in contextCommercial property in practiceConveyancingDEVELOPMENT AND LEASES:IntroductionDevelopment leasesSite acquisitionPlanningConstructionFunding and investmentLettingLEASES:IntroductionRelationship of landlord and tenantDefinitionEssential elements of a leaseParties to a leaseTypes of leasesFormalities for the creation and assignment of a leaseLEASES AND LICENCES:Importance of the distinctionLicencesLaw relevant to the lease-licence distinctionDraftingFORM AND CONTENT OF BUSINESS LEASES:IntroductionA typical business leaseENFORCEABILITY OF LEASEHOLD COVENANTS:IntroductionThe old rulesThe new rulesUse of insolvency law to avoid liabilityRENT AND RENT REVIEW:RentRent reviewUSER:IntroductionAt common lawExpress covenantsLandlord′s concernsTenant′s concernsDraftingFactors outside the leaseOther clauses in the leaseInterpretation of user clausesAncillary useKeep-open covenantsTenant′s tacticsALTERATIONS:IntroductionFactors outside the lease affecting alterationsFactors in the lease affecting alterationsScope and meaning of alterations: Construction of covenantsLandlord′s consentLicence for alterationsAlterations and improvements: Qualified covenants and s 19(2) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927Drafting the covenantReinstatementCompensation for improvementsREPAIRS:IntroductionDefinition of the premisesBefore the lease is entered intoMeaning of repairStandard of repairScope of repairing covenantConstruction of the repairing covenantDecoratingDraftingEnforcement and remediesALIENATION:IntroductionAbsolute covenantQualified covenantAlienation in breach of covenantAssignmentSublettingsConstruction of alienation clausesLandlord′s consentSERVICE CHARGES:IntroductionProvision in the leaseApportionment of service chargesENDING A BUSINESS TENANCY:IntroductionEffluxion of timeNotice to quitBreak clausesSurrenderAcceptance of repudiatory breachDisclaimerFORFEITURE:IntroductionThe current law of forfeitureProposals for reformSECURITY OF TENURE:IntroductionProtected tenanciesContracting outContinuation of tenanciesTermination of tenancies under the 1954 ActCompensationThe new tenancyGlossary of commercial property termsBibliographyIndex