We were appointed by a commercial tenant occupying office space at in EC4A, to manage and advise on dilapidations liabilities ahead of their lease expiry. Our first step was to carry out a detailed dilapidations assessment report well before any formal claim was issued by the landlord.
This early-stage report enabled the client to gain clarity on their likely lease-end obligations, supporting accurate dilapidations budgeting and exit strategy planning.
Eight months later, the landlord served a formal Schedule of Dilapidations with a claim totalling £465,000, including alleged breaches of lease covenants covering reinstatement, repair, redecoration, and statutory compliance.
We were re-engaged to act on behalf of the tenant, offering professional representation throughout the dilapidations negotiation process. By conducting a thorough review of the lease covenants, building condition, and statutory requirements, we identified several areas where the landlord’s claim was overstated or not supported by the lease terms.
Our expert negotiation strategy led to a final settlement of £170,000, achieving a reduction of over 63% from the original claim. This delivered substantial savings for our client, who was able to exit the lease with certainty and minimal financial exposure.