The Covid-19 pandemic has confined the majority of the office workforce to working remotely, from home. The success of the remote working model is prompting business owners to look at how they are going to use their office space in the future.
We are now asking ourselves why our default choice has always been to work side-by-side at desks in office buildings. For many businesses, the last few months have demonstrated that a great deal of what is done in the office can be done effectively from home. In any event, in the short-term at least the challenges around returning to the office make the prospect unattractive for many - social distancing requirements mean that many workstations would need to be left vacant, and renders hot-desking impractical.
We sense a determination on the part of many office occupiers to re-think how accommodation is occupied and how (and where) staff are asked to work. For example, should office space become more deliberately a place where staff come to physically network and interact, rather than just to sit at a desk and work in a solitary way (which can be done at home)? Should offices be reconfigured to consist of less workstation space, and more interactive/collaborative space?
If this is the route that you want to take, what can you do within the confines of your lease?
A landlord’s objective in restricting alterations is to ensure that it has the control that it requires to prevent the property both from losing value and becoming more difficult to let. The type of alterations permitted will ordinarily depend on both the nature of the property and the length of the term.
It is common for a lease of part of a building for office use to absolutely prohibit any external or structural alterations, and permit internal non-structural alterations with landlord’s consent.
If a tenant wants to reconfigure its office space it is, therefore, likely that it will need to request landlord’s consent.
In some cases, the tenant may have been able to negotiate a provision allowing it to install and remove demountable partitioning without landlord’s consent. In such cases, although the lease gives the tenant this right, tenants are likely to be required to comply with notification obligations. For example, they will need to notify the landlord and insurers of any alterations made. It should be noted that the Code for Leasing Business Premises in England and Wales 2007 (the Lease Code 2007) states that landlord’s consent should not be required for internal non-structural alterations unless they could affect services or systems in the building. To date, the provisions of the Lease Code 2007 have not been widely followed.
The Lease Code 2020 will take effect from 1 September 2020, with the status (for RICS members) of a professional statement, rather than a voluntary code (as was the case with the Lease Code 2007). In relation to alterations, the Lease Code 2020 differentiates between leases of whole and leases of part. Rather than saying that landlord’s consent should not be required for internal non-structural alterations (as set out above), it sets out that ‘In a lease of a unit in a multi-let building, a landlord may require that its consent for internal non-structural alterations is to be obtained and that such consent is not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and may prohibit any alterations that adversely affect the character, value, structural stability, statutory compliance or energy efficiency performance of the building or its building services.’
It is, therefore, likely that tenants with leases of part are going to have to continue to obtain landlord’s consent for all alterations.
Where landlord’s consent must be obtained, the lease generally provides that consent must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
Even if the lease does not set this out, section 19(2) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 may assist. This provides that, where the landlord’s consent is needed for improvements, then that consent cannot be unreasonably withheld. There may, of course, be a divergence of views on whether the tenant’s proposed works actually amount to improvements, rather than just alterations. In certain circumstances, a tenant can carry out improvements even if it is forbidden by the lease. However, this comes back to the point as to whether the tenant’s proposed alterations are improvements.
A tenant should, therefore, insist that the lease expressly states that the landlord’s consent to alterations must not be unreasonably withheld (or delayed).
The alterations clause cannot be considered in a vacuum. Other points to look at include:
A lease may be drafted so as to completely prohibit all alterations, or a particular type of alterations (commonly structural alterations). What happens if the landlord grants a tenant’s request to carry out these alterations regardless of the absolute prohibition in the lease? The parties may think that if a commercial agreement can be reached, this is entirely up to them. However, in a multi occupied building you also need to look at whether the other leases in the building contain similar provisions.
The Supreme Court recently considered the point in Duval v 11-13 Randolph Crescent, and held that if a landlord permitted a tenant to carry out alterations where there was an absolute prohibition against them in the lease, the landlord would be in breach of its obligation to enforce the lease covenants at the request of another tenant in the building. See our legal insight on the Duval decision for more information.
The landlord also needs to bear in mind that, where there is an absolute prohibition in the lease, granting consent will amount to a variation to the lease. This could result in a guarantor being released from its liability under the guarantee provisions in the lease.
As tenants review their space requirements, we are likely to see an increased focus, in new leases, on flexibility to reconfigure space without landlord’s consent. Whether or not tenants will be able to negotiate such provisions will depend on the relative bargaining strength of the parties.
Tenants who are already occupying under existing leases will need to check whether any alterations can be carried out without consent. If not, an application for landlord’s consent will need to be made, and it is likely that we will see an increase in such applications. Landlords must ensure that they deal with such requests in accordance with the requirements of the lease.
TLT has extensive experience in acting for both landlords and tenants. If you would like to discuss your requirements, please get in touch.
Contributor: Alexandra Holsgrove Jones
This publication is intended for general guidance and represents our understanding of the relevant law and practice as at June 2020. Specific advice should be sought for specific cases. For more information see our terms & conditions
Helping you navigate your business through the risks and opportunities that Brexit will bring.
Read moreThe way people shop is constantly evolving, from the growth of online and the changing use of stores...
Read moreThe widespread disruption and closure of businesses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent national and local lockdowns has brought into sharp focus the question of available insurance cover for losses under...
Read moreWatch our video series for information on the legal issues that are affecting the real estate sector. Each...
Read moreThe pandemic has had a deep and long-lasting effect on the leisure, food & drink sector, forcing operators to embrace new ways of attracting and servicing customers.
Read moreThe pandemic has forced the majority of the workforce into a world of remote working. As a result, our cities are evolving.
Read moreOur countdown to Brexit and beyond podcast series looks at the impact for businesses on both sides of the pond of any free trade agreement between the UK and Europe and the UK and the US. This
Read moreThere's a growing demand for retailers to do more to attract the Purple Pound – the collective spending power of disabled shoppers, estimated to be worth around £274bn. We look at the opportunities, the legal issues and...
Read moreGreen finance is gaining speed, driven by global climate change pressures and the recognition of the vital role which sustainability plays in a resilient financial services sector.
Read moreKeep on top of the employment law issues that matter most to you and your business with our new podcast.
Read moreProviding a comprehensive service from development and investment through to asset management and tax.
Read moreWe regularly advise on the site assembly, acquisition, letting, funding and the sale of commercial development projects. Our experience spans a variety of funding models including debt to equity, mezzanine and forward-commitment models.
Read moreWe have one of the largest and most experienced commercial landlord and tenant teams in the UK.We act for institutional and private investors, property companies and all manner of occupiers.
Read more