Services

Dilapidations

Part science, part art, and a good dose of law, the key to successful dilapidations negotiations is experience.

We’re pleased to say that we have a huge amount; we know all the angles and how to ensure that our clients get an appropriate conclusion in a sensible timescale. No wild promises, just good results.

Dilapidations Liability Assessments.

Preparation of an assessment of a dilapidations liability well in advance of lease expiry can help a tenant make an accurate accounts provision or a landlord understand the financial implication of a forthcoming claim.

Comprehensive Case Interrogation.

A thorough interrogation of each claim forms the backbone to our approach in dilapidations matters to ensure that each case has the support and evidence it needs to produce the best result possible.

Bespoke Property-Specific Strategies.

Every dilapidations instruction starts with the production of a strategy based on a complete review of the property documents and factors which affect the claim. This strategy may need to flex to suit a developing claim but will always be shared with the client to maintain transparency.

Case Study

Services
Tenant dilapidations

Client
BASF

Property
Industrial complex

Date
March 2017

Having prepared a dilapidations liability assessment 18 months prior to lease expiry it was clear that full compliance with the lease terms could be costly for the outgoing tenant. The site had been extensively altered during the long lease term and there was a question of whether contamination could be an issue.

During the process of preparing a strategy for dealing with dilapidations prior to lease expiry, it became clear that there was a strong relationship between certain members of the facility team and the landlord. Our recommendation was to leverage this relationship to keep discussions regarding dilapidations on an informal basis whilst Collins McKay sat in the background providing technical advice to the on-site team.

Negotiations proceeded amicably, and without the traditional back-and-forth discussions over minor points often found with dilapidations. The landlord’s claim was ultimately settled at a significant discount to the initial liability (over 90%).