Insight

Your Lease Journey: When to Act and What to Plan For

23.10.25 3 MIN READ

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Upcoming lease events - whether a lease expiry, rent review or break clause - can feel like routine administrative milestones. In reality, they’re critical turning points that shape your operations, flexibility, and costs for years to come.

The Hidden Risks of Waiting Too Long

Across the industrial market, occupiers consistently underestimate how long lease processes take and how quickly uncertainty becomes risk. As key dates approach, familiar concerns emerge: Will we lose flexibility? Are costs about to rise? What will our repair obligations look like?

Failing to review lease terms in time can mean losing your right to break early. Overlooking reinstatement and repair obligations can trigger inflated dilapidations claims, while late negotiations often leave occupiers with reduced leverage and higher rents.

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Turning pressure into opportunity

With multiple stakeholders, legal obligations, and operational considerations at play, lease events often feel overwhelming. But with early preparation, you can transform high-risk deadlines into strategic opportunities - to manage costs, improve space efficiency, and protect long-term business goals.

Understanding where you are in the lease journey is critical. Every stage brings distinct decisions, risks, and opportunities. Starting conversations 18 to 24 months before a lease expiry, rent review, or break clause creates time to explore every option – whether that’s renewing on better terms, renegotiating for flexibility, downsizing to cut costs or relocating entirely.

Early assessments unlock real value. Reviewing lease terms, property condition, and upcoming obligations helps you identify savings and mitigate risks before they become expensive problems. A thorough review of your lease documentation ensures you don’t miss critical dates or break conditions. Early building inspections and dilapidations assessments forecast potential liabilities, giving you time to plan remedial works or negotiate settlements on your terms.

 

Taking Control of Cost, Timing and Continuity

The earlier you act, the more control you have over cost, timing, and business continuity. A proactive approach means making informed decisions that’s support your operational strategy, rather than reacting to deadlines or landlord demands.

To help you navigate these stages, we’ve created The Lease Journey - a step-by-step guide that maps the key moments, risks, and decisions shaping every lease event.

 

Explore the journey below to see where you are and identify your next move.

Get in touch with our Lease Consultancy and Building Surveying teams

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Karen Wilkins

Partner, Commercial Building Surveying

Having worked for MEPC at Silverstone Technology Park, Bright Horizons Nurseries, and Majestic Wines, Karen can turn her hand to any job and provide thorough advice to her clients.

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Andrew Flood

Partner, Lease Consultancy

Andrew has the knowledge to help with your commercial lease re-gearing, renewals or rent reviews across the Oxford to Cambridge Arc.

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Search Bidwells