A commercial or retail lease is a legally binding commitment that will govern your business premises for years. Before you sign, you deserve to understand exactly what you are agreeing to.
Book a ConsultationLandlords typically present leases on standard terms that are favourable to their position. Many of those terms are negotiable — but only if you know what to push for before you commit. Once the lease is signed, your options are dramatically reduced.
At LK William, we act exclusively in the interests of our tenant clients — reviewing every clause, negotiating on your behalf, and ensuring you understand every obligation you are taking on before you take possession.
Comprehensive lease review and plain-language clause summary
Identification of one-sided or unreasonable terms
Negotiation of rent, rent review, and outgoings obligations
Advice on make-good, permitted use, and refurbishment requirements
Assignment and subletting rights for business exit strategies
Advice on option terms and lease renewal processes
From first review to confident execution.
We review the full lease document and provide a plain-language report on every significant clause — including the ones the landlord hopes you will not notice.
We negotiate with the landlord or their lawyers on your behalf — targeting the terms that matter most to your business.
Once we are satisfied the lease is in your best interests, we advise on execution and ensure all conditions are met.
We remain available throughout the lease term — for rent review advice, consent applications, and any disputes that arise.
Make-good clauses can require you to spend tens of thousands of dollars restoring the premises at lease end. We identify make-good obligations, assess their cost implications, and negotiate reasonable limitations before you are bound.
The permitted use clause defines what you can legally use the premises for. A narrowly defined permitted use can prevent you from adapting your business model during the lease term. We ensure the permitted use is appropriately broad before you sign.
If you plan to sell your business, your ability to assign the lease to the buyer is critical. Overly restrictive assignment clauses can derail a business sale. We ensure your assignment rights are clearly and favourably set out before you commit.
Yes — and you should. Many terms presented as standard are in fact negotiable. Rent, rent review mechanisms, make-good obligations, permitted use, fit-out contributions, rent-free periods, and assignment rights are all areas where negotiation can make a significant difference to your business. We advise on what to target and manage the negotiation on your behalf.
Outgoings are costs associated with the property — including rates, insurance, building management costs, and maintenance. Whether you are required to pay outgoings, and which specific outgoings, depends entirely on the lease. We review the outgoings clause carefully and ensure you understand the full financial commitment before signing.
If your business fails, you remain personally liable under the lease unless you have a corporate structure in place or have negotiated a limitation on your personal liability. We advise on structuring your lease entry to limit personal risk and on your options — including assignment, subletting, and negotiated surrender — if your business circumstances change.
Book a confidential consultation with our team. No pressure, no legal jargon — just a clear conversation about your matter and how we can help.