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United Kingdom

A Practical Guide to Licences to Assign Commercial Leases: Process, Timescales, Consent, AGAs, Costs and Superior Consents (England and Wales)

Practice notes
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This Practice Note examines handling an application for a licence to assign an existing commercial lease (ie as a lease management transaction). It explains when and why a tenant seeks consent to assign and the commercial motivations for both landlord and tenant. It also outlines the transaction steps and guides you through the principal legal and commercial issues. A tenant’s lease determines how far it may dispose of the premises by assigning its lease. For guidance on negotiating an assignment clause in a lease, see Practice Note: Negotiation guide—alienation clauses—commercial leases...

Understanding the commercial context—background and key concerns

Almost invariably, commercial leases include restrictions and conditions on a tenant assigning the lease. See ‘Is landlord’s consent required to the assignment?’ below...

Tenant—key commercial drivers and issues

A tenant may submit an application to assign at any point during the lease term. The capacity to assign the lease is fundamental to unlocking options for the tenant across different market conditions...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

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I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...

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