Commercial property dilapidations disputes on the rise

Disputes over dilapidation within commercial properties have increased recently, according to a recent article from John Newton, head of the Cardiff office of the building and project consultancy firm, Tuffin Ferraby Taylor.

Writing for Wales Online, Mr Newton suggested that the business has seen a 25 per cent increase in such disputes since a change in the relationship between landlords and tenants took place in the wake of the recession.

Tenants who ignore or fail to recognise their repair obligations during a lease can sometimes leave buildings in an altered state or in disrepair when they leave. As times have become harder financially, landlords are taking a stricter approach to such behaviour.

The company researching the issue cited some of its own dilapidations claims. Some of its London offices have been involved with claims on tenants of office buildings in the West End of the capital to the tune of £2 million, while in Cardiff, claims on industrial units range from around £30,000 to £500,000.

Mr Newton added that professional advice is usually a good thing to seek out if there are problems with a lease on a commercial property. While it is rarely possible to alter the terms of a lease once it is in process, professional help can usually help to manage and mitigate dilapidations liability issues.

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