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Rent Review meaning

/rɛnt/ /rɪˈvjuː/
What does Rent Review mean?
Rent review is the contractual mechanism in a lease for periodically resetting the rent during the term. In practice, it commonly uses one of four methods: open market rent, indexation (e.g. RPI/CPI), fixed “stepped” uplifts, or turnover rent. Under an open market rent review, the rent is reassessed by reference to comparable properties on the review date, assuming a hypothetical letting between a willing landlord and willing tenant of the actual premises on the existing lease terms, but subject to stated assumptions and disregards (typically assuming vacant possession and lawful use, and disregarding tenant’s improvements and goodwill). The concept is not defined by statute; it is a widely used contractual expression across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, interpreted in line with lease wording, market practice and professional guidance. Upward‑only rent reviews remain lawful and common in England & Wales and Northern Ireland; they are also seen in Scotland. In Ireland, upward‑only rent review clauses are prohibited in new commercial leases granted from 28 February 2010, so reviews may move rent up or down in line with the agreed formula; legacy leases may retain upward‑only provisions. Leases usually prescribe review dates, notice requirements, interim payments and dispute resolution by arbitrator...
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View the related Checklists about Rent Review

CHECKLISTS
Tenant lease surrender: comprehensive checklist and procedure covering premiums, tax, underleases, consents, releases, dilapidations and registration (England and Wales)

This Checklist highlights principal actions and considerations for a tenant weighing up surrendering its lease to its landlord. It is not comprehensive, and you should always assess whether further matters arise that require attention in your specific situation, including any fact-specific risks or obligations. This guidance proceeds on the basis that the following apply: the surrender is by express agreement and not effected by operation of law, and no immediate re-grant in favour of the tenant will follow the surrender You can read this Checklist alongside Practice Note: Lease surrenders and Checklist Surrender of lease—acting for the landlord—checklist. How to use this Checklist Although the mechanics of a lease surrender broadly resemble a sale and purchase in commercial terms (the tenant effectively sells and the landlord buys), notable distinctions remain. The opening section (Key issues) identifies the main points for review, with additional explanation provided in the Procedure table below for handling a lease surrender, in more detail for...

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CHECKLISTS
Lease variations and side letters in property acquisitions: due diligence checklist (England and Wales)

This Flowchart sets out the conditions that must be satisfied for the court to declare that a transaction constitutes a preference and grant relief. This diagram outlines the criteria that need to be met for the court to find a transaction is a preference and award appropriate relief...

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CHECKLISTS
Landlord’s response to tenant’s licence to assign application—commercial lease consent checklist (England and Wales)

This Checklist is illustrative rather than comprehensive and will not anticipate every scenario in every deal. It sets out the principal actions and issues to review when representing a landlord in relation to a tenant’s request for a licence to assign. It proceeds on the basis that the tenant holds a rack rent lease of commercial premises. Undertaking for costs If the lease or the Heads of Terms place the landlord’s consideration costs on the tenant, seek an undertaking from the tenant’s solicitors covering the landlord’s legal and surveyor fees (plus VAT and disbursements), regardless of whether the assignment proceeds and irrespective of whether consent is given. Ensure your estimate is adequate, or expressly retain the right to uplift the sum if the case becomes unusually complex or drawn out. Assess whether the undertaking should also include any superior landlord’s charges, where relevant. Does the lease permit assignment? Review the lease’s alienation clauses to confirm whether assignment is allowed and, if so, the conditions attached. Where...

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FLOWCHARTS
Archived: Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 arbitration: eligibility, notices, hearings, awards and moratorium end; scheme closed to new references (England and Wales)

This Flowchart This Flowchart supports your decision on whether a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) is necessary when initiating a new project that involves personal data from the outset, helping you decide effectively. It sets out: three scenarios in which a DPIA is mandatory under Article 35(3) of Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2016/679, UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR); and ten further processing activities for which the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) requires a DPIA to be carried out Where a DPIA is not needed, you should think about using a simpler form of review, which we call a privacy impact assessment (PIA) instead. The Flowchart enables you to determine which assessment—DPIA or PIA—best fits your project in practice. For additional guidance on DPIAs and PIAs, see Practice Note: How to complete a data protection impact assessment—DPIA...

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FLOWCHARTS
Internal Communications Planning: Step-by-Step Flowchart for Lawyers, with Practice Note and Precedent

During any due diligence on acquiring a leasehold interest in land, it is vital to review whether the tenant may assign, underlet, or charge the premises. Provisions that are too restrictive may: adversely affect the buyer’s ability to dispose of their interest in the property in the future create a burden for day-to-day property management impact the overall value of the property to the buyer This Checklist is directed chiefly at leases granted for a reasonably long term at an annual market rent. For further guidance on: building leases, see Practice Note: Building leases—alienation side-by-side or geared rent leases, see Practice Note: Headlease rent linked to underlease rents long leases granted for a premium at a peppercorn rent where the leasehold interest is virtually equivalent to a freehold interest, see Precedent: Long lease of whole of commercial premises at a premium Assignment Can the tenant assign the lease and is the landlord’s consent...

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NEWS
UK Local Government Weekly: Social Care Direct Payments, Rent Repayment Defences, Procurement Privilege Waiver, A38 DCO JR, Welsh Language Scheme Ruling, and Policy Updates (DfE, DHSC, Elections) (24 October 2024)

In this issue Social care Social housing Public procurement Planning Judicial review Education Healthcare Governance Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Social care Direct payments representative not a standard authorisation of property and affairs deputyship—Lumb (SSB) v NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB Managing direct payments from a personal health budget as a ‘representative’ under the National Health Service (Direct Payments) Regulations 2013 does not sit within the usual authorisations of a property and affairs deputyship. A health body may appoint a property and affairs deputy as ‘representative’ under regulation 5(4), yet that role extends beyond the remit of a standard deputyship appointment. Likewise, the functions of a ‘nominee’ under the 2013 Regulations are not encompassed by standard deputyship powers. The Court of Protection can, however, make a targeted appointment granting a deputy authority specifically to oversee direct payments in line with the 2013 Regulations. A case manager is an...

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NEWS
Divisional Court dismisses A1P1 challenge to LFRA 2024; upholds removal of marriage value, 0.1% ground rent cap and limits on landlords’ non-litigation costs (England and Wales)

What was the background? Six prominent landlords — ARC, Cadogan & Grosvenor, Abacus, Wallace, John Lyon’s Charity and Portal Trust — commenced judicial review proceedings, alleging that three elements of the LFRA 2024 infringe A1P1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The dispute focused on leasehold enfranchisement: the statutory mechanism by which long leaseholders may purchase the freehold or extend their lease, devised to remedy the ‘wasting asset problem’, whereby leaseholds lose value as the term shortens despite tenants having paid sizeable premiums and ongoing maintenance charges. The impugned provisions were: a ceiling on ground rent set at 0.1% of the freehold vacant possession value for the purposes of enfranchisement calculations; the elimination of marriage value from enfranchisement premiums by proceeding on the basis that the tenant is not seeking to acquire the freehold; and the removal of tenants’ responsibility for landlords’ non-litigation costs in enfranchisement claims. It was agreed between the parties that these reforms would markedly reduce the...

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NEWS
UK immigration round-up: IHS increase, ISL review, Rwanda Bill guidance, right to work/rent penalties, offshore concession, student migration, and key case law—25 January 2024

In this issue Key developments UK immigration control: how it works Sponsored work Work sponsorship: sponsors Students EU law rights and EU settlement Challenging immigration decisions and enforcement Preventing illegal working Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content New Q&As Key developments Future developments—Immigration calendar Our Immigration calendar sets out key forthcoming developments for business immigration advisers. UK immigration control: how it works IHS rises to come into force from 6 February 2024 The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2024, SI 2024/55, was made on 16 January 2024. Under article 1(2) of the Order, it comes into effect 21 days later, on 6 February 2024. The measure increases the Immigration Health Surcharge from £470 to £776 per annum for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and children under 18. For all other applications that must pay the Health Charge, the annual IHS rises from £624 to...

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View the related Practice Notes about Rent Review

PRACTICE NOTES
Outgoing tenant assignment of rack rent occupational commercial leases: consents, AGAs, anti-avoidance, old/new lease liability, indemnities, rent reviews and deposits (England and Wales)

This Practice Note highlights the principal points to weigh up when acting for an outgoing tenant and advising on the assignment of a rack rent (occupational) commercial lease. See also Practice Note: Transferring commercial property—a practical guide, together with the Assignment of a rack rent lease (assignor)—checklist. Is the landlord’s consent required to the assignment? Carry out the following checks in sequence, in particular: Carefully scrutinise the lease terms, together with any deeds of variation and, where necessary, any other supplemental documents. If the lease is registered and contains HM Land Registry prescribed clauses, the register will confirm whether or not the lease includes provisions that restrict or prohibit dispositions, as shown by clause LR8 of the lease. Consider whether a restriction has been entered on the title expressly barring assignment without the landlord’s consent. Where relevant, review any superior lease carefully to establish if assignment is constrained—for example, a prohibition on assigning an underlease without consent...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Commercial leases: tenant issues on insurance, subrogation, uninsured risks, rent and service charge suspension, reinstatement and termination rights (England and Wales)

Who insures? Joint insurance From a tenant’s standpoint, the preferred arrangement is for the premises to be insured in the joint names of the landlord and the tenant. For the tenant, the key advantages are: both parties are alerted before the policy comes up for renewal or lapses any insurance proceeds are payable jointly to landlord and tenant, giving the tenant influence over how the funds are applied (and therefore over the reinstatement of the premises) there are no detrimental effects if the landlord enters liquidation before reinstatement is carried out the insurers cannot rely on their right of ‘subrogation’ (see Subrogation below) against the tenant for damage the tenant caused or contributed to Nevertheless, in many cases arranging insurance in joint names will not be practical...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Commercial lease alterations: negotiating prohibited and permitted works, consents, structural issues, reinstatement, rights outside the demise, telecoms wayleaves and clause interactions (England and Wales)

Negotiation Guide This Negotiation Guide sits within the Practical lease negotiation collection. See also Practice Note: New starter guide—entering into new commercial leases. An alterations clause sets out how far (if at all) a tenant may undertake alterations to the demised premises. Contemporary commercial leases usually separate alterations into: prohibited alterations alterations allowed with the landlord’s consent alterations allowed without the landlord’s consent If, unusually, the lease contains no alteration restrictions, the tenant may carry out any alterations to the demised premises. More often, commercial leases impose a general ban on alterations, with carve-outs for defined categories of works (eg internal non-structural changes) that may proceed either with, or without, the landlord’s prior consent. Drafting by exception in this manner helps to minimise confusion and reduce the risk of future disputes. The scope of permitted alterations—and any conditions attached to them—is shaped by the nature of the premises, the duration of the lease and the landlord’s plans for...

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View the related Precedents about Rent Review

PRECEDENTS
Lease of bare land to telecommunications operator under the legacy Electronic Communications Code: archived precedent (England and Wales)

LR1. Date of the lease [ enter the date in full format DD-Month-Year ] LR2. Title Number[s] LR2.1 Landlord's title number [ s ] [ the title numbers from which this lease is granted. Leave blank if unregistered ] LR2.2 Other title numbers [ existing title number [ s ] against which entries relating to LR9, LR10, LR11 and LR13 are to be made ] LR3. Parties to this lease Landlord [ enter landlord's name and address ] Tenant [ enter tenant's name and address ] Other parties LR4. Property Where this clause conflicts with any other part of the lease, then, for registration purposes, this clause shall take precedence. [ enter details of the Property ] LR5. Prescribed statements etc LR5.1 Statements prescribed under rules 179 (dispositions in favour of a charity), 180 (dispositions by a charity) or 196 (leases under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban...

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PRECEDENTS
Farm Business Tenancy (England and Wales): ATA 1995 short-term (up to two years) precedent with optional guarantor, insurance, early termination, and payment entitlement/quota provisions

1 Definitions Within this Agreement, certain expressions carry specific meanings. Illustrative terms include: AA 2020: the Agriculture Act 2020; ATA 1995: the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 Adjoining Property: Retained Land and nearby premises; Adjoining Property Rights: rights over the Holding benefiting such land Agreement: this instrument and any supplementary or collateral document Annual Rent: yearly sum payable from the Rent Commencement Date on Rent Days Authority: any statutory, public or local body, court, government department or duly authorised officers Conduits: media and equipment for carrying energy, data or substances Costs: losses, expenses, damages and liabilities Direct Payment: any BPS Payment or SFS Payment, as applicable Eligible Holding: parts of the Holding qualifying for a Rural Support Payment Forfeiture Event: designated insolvency processes, non-payment, or breach Genetically Modified Organisms: as defined by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including modified or derived crops Holding: the identified property shown on the Plan Insured Risks: perils the Landlord...

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PRECEDENTS
Client report on title for occupational lease - precedent (England and Wales)

ARCHIVED : This Precedent has been archived and is not maintained. To: The [ directors OR partnership ] [ Insert the Tenant’s name, address and (if applicable) company registration number ] Dear [ insert organisation name ] [ Insert the name and address of the Property ] (the Property) 1 Scope of this report and reliance This report has been produced solely for your benefit, relating to your intention to take a lease of the Property from [ insert name and address of Landlord ] (the Landlord), at an initial yearly rent of £[ insert rent ] [ plus VAT ]. It proceeds on the basis that the Property will be used as a [ insert current use ] and that you do not plan to redevelop it [ or undertake any alterations to it ]. Our conclusions are drawn from a review of the Landlord’s [ and Head Landlord’s ] title, the Landlord’s replies to pre‑contract enquiries, and the results of searches....

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Q&As
Lease at undervalue: third-owner relief; AST rent rise/forfeiture

If a lease was granted at undervalue, you are the 3rd owner, and you knew it was at undervalue, if creditors ask for an order returning the property to the original owner you cannot claim relief? Transactions at an undervalue (TUVs) are regulated by the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986). The relevant provisions are: sections 238, 240 and 241 of the IA 1986 for companies sections 339 to 342 of the IA 1986 for individuals These powers are available to trustees in bankruptcy, liquidators (in both compulsory and voluntary liquidations), and administrators. They permit the office-holder to review dealings made by the insolvent person or company in the lead-up to insolvency and to assess whether assets should be recovered for the insolvent estate. In particular, an order under: section 241 of the IA 1986 (for companies), or section 342 of the IA 1986 (for individuals) cannot be made against the other party to a...

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