Real cost
Look beyond the advertised rent
LEASE COSTS
Understand how rent reviews, outgoings, security and other commitments can affect the cost of occupying the premises.
Commercial lease review before you sign
Have a solicitor review the proposed lease, explain the terms that matter to your business and identify questions to resolve before you sign.
Business use
Check that the terms fit your plans
YOUR PREMISES
Review the permitted use, fit-out arrangements and obligations that may affect how you operate.
Exit terms
Know the position at the end
FUTURE FLEXIBILITY
Consider renewal options, assignment requirements and make-good obligations before committing to the lease.
BEFORE YOU COMMIT
The rent is only one part of the agreement
A commercial lease can shape your business costs and flexibility for years. A solicitor can review the documents, explain the responsibilities they create and identify terms to clarify or discuss with the landlord. Start before signing or paying a non-refundable amount, with enough time to consider the advice.
Key areas in a commercial lease review
Costs
Rent reviews and outgoings
Understand how rent changes and which additional charges the lease asks you to pay, including any stated recovery arrangements.
Operations
Permitted use and premises obligations
Check the stated use, fit-out arrangements and responsibilities for repairs, maintenance and approvals relevant to your business.
Security
Deposits and personal guarantees
Review the security required and any personal commitment requested from directors, owners or other guarantors.
Flexibility
Options, assignment and make good
Look at renewal requirements, transfer or subletting provisions and what the lease requires when you leave.
PLAN FOR THE WHOLE LEASE
Think about opening day and the day you leave
The lease needs to work for your intended use of the premises and your plans for the business. Check how fit-out, repairs, renewal and exit obligations are documented. Existing condition reports, disclosure documents and any promises made during negotiations should be considered alongside the lease.
How your lease review works
Make the lease documents part of your business decision before you commit to the premises.
1. Share the proposed documents
Send an enquiry with the lease type, premises location, your proposed role and any signing or commencement deadline.
2. Confirm the review scope
We confirm the documents needed, whether we can act, the work included and the fee. Negotiation or additional drafting can be scoped separately.
3. Review the terms and questions
A solicitor considers the lease and explains key obligations and matters to clarify in the context of the agreed engagement.
4. Resolve the next steps
Decide what advice, clarification or negotiation you need before proceeding. Any further work is agreed before it is undertaken.
Retail leasing rules depend on the premises and location
A lease described as commercial may still fall within a state's retail leasing legislation. Applicable disclosure, cost and other requirements need to be checked for the particular lease. Tell your solicitor where the premises are and how the business intends to use them.
Commercial lease review questions
What to prepare and how to set the right scope for the review.
REQUEST A LEASE REVIEWBefore signing the lease or making a commitment you cannot readily unwind. Raise the review early enough to consider advice, ask questions and discuss any proposed changes.
Provide the draft lease and any agreement for lease, disclosure documents, incentives, guarantees, condition reports and relevant correspondence. Your solicitor will confirm which documents are needed for the agreed scope.
Retail leases are a category of commercial leasing with specific rules that vary by jurisdiction and circumstances. The premises, proposed use and applicable legislation need to be checked.
A document review and negotiation are different tasks. Tell us what you need when you enquire. Any negotiation, amendments or further drafting will be agreed as part of the scope or separately.
No. Legal review addresses the lease within the agreed scope. You may also need financial, planning, building or business advice to assess the location and commercial viability.
The fee depends on the documents and scope of work and is confirmed before the engagement proceeds. For general retail leasing information, use the guidance for the relevant state or territory.
Results that speak
Trusted by 2,000+ property buyers, investors and SMSF clients
Read our Google reviews5.00
Settlement was smooth and team proactively chased all legal angles as and when required.
5.00
We settled our first home with Domium and it has been an excellent experience. … They are very easy to reach and highly responsive.
5.00
Doing my refinance with Domium was such an incredibly easy and straightforward process…
5.00
More specifically, the legal services team is prompt in their services.
5.00
Domium is high tech platform with a continuous one-on-one support making the whole refinancing experience easy and seamless.
5.00
The platform was easy to use and provided clear information on the current status and next steps.
5.00
Less messing about with paperwork and a quicker route to a new property. Can't recommend Domium as a business more.
5.00
In the end, Domium was the only one capable of meeting my specific needs within an exceptionally tight timeframe.
5.00
Great service. Hassle free and best process and timely updates. This is my second experience with them.
5.00
They explained everything clearly, kept me informed, and made the whole process much easier and less stressful.
5.00
Settlement was smooth and team proactively chased all legal angles as and when required.
5.00
We settled our first home with Domium and it has been an excellent experience. … They are very easy to reach and highly responsive.
5.00
Doing my refinance with Domium was such an incredibly easy and straightforward process…
5.00
More specifically, the legal services team is prompt in their services.
5.00
Domium is high tech platform with a continuous one-on-one support making the whole refinancing experience easy and seamless.
5.00
The platform was easy to use and provided clear information on the current status and next steps.
5.00
Less messing about with paperwork and a quicker route to a new property. Can't recommend Domium as a business more.
5.00
In the end, Domium was the only one capable of meeting my specific needs within an exceptionally tight timeframe.
5.00
Great service. Hassle free and best process and timely updates. This is my second experience with them.
5.00
They explained everything clearly, kept me informed, and made the whole process much easier and less stressful.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Review the lease before you commit to the premises
Start with the proposed lease, the location and your business plans. Ask us to confirm the review scope and the legal support you need.