What you need to know when moving premises

Business change of Tenancy

If your business is moving to a new rented commercial space, you’ll need to manage a change in business tenancy. This could be for a variety of reasons, for example: you may have outgrown your existing premises or you’re moving to a far more suitable location.

Our in-depth guide hopes to give you all the essential details by outlining the practicalities you’ll need to consider before and after you make the big move. Switching your business energy is just one of the areas you need to plan for.

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Licensing

A licensed property can often be easier, quicker and more cost effective to move into in comparison to a new leasing agreement. The wide availability of 12-month contracts provides start-ups with increased flexibility.

Important considerations to make before signing a new licensing contract

  • The landlord and tenant both have the right to end the contract at short notice. The tenant can take advantage of this flexibility, however it does mean that there will usually be some level of instability, as the landlord can also end the agreement with short notice.
  • Tenants do not have the automatic right to renew this type of contract once it has ended.
  • You should check to see if the landlord has the relevant permissions to grant a license for this type of tenancy.
  • Ensure the required facilities and services you need are included within the licensing agreement. Common examples may include car parking, air conditioning, and reception space etc.

Before you make the big move

Repairs and maintenance

To avoid having to pay any dilapidations charges, you should carry out any maintenance or repair work to restore the property to its original condition when you first moved in. If you have made any modifications to the property outside of the contractual terms, these will also need to be reversed.

The landlord may charge you if you fail to carry out adequate maintenance and repair work.

If you do believe that you are being charged unfairly, you do have the option to dispute this through court proceedings. As mentioned previously, a professional legal advisor can help on this occasion.

After you have made the big move

Congratulations! You now have the keys to your new premises. Before celebrating, there are a few things you need to act on for the best possible start. We have highlighted these below.

Carry out fire and risk assessments

It is your responsibility to conduct a comprehensive fire and risk assessment of the premises.

Contact your current energy provider

If the previous tenant has followed the right procedure, you should be contacted by the property’s existing commercial energy supplier. They will detail what steps you need to take to start paying for gas and electricity use. If there are no prior arrangements in place, you will be placed on a deemed contract after giving the supplier an up to date meter reading.

If you’re unhappy with the expensive deemed contract rate, it’s quick and easy to compare business energy tariffs through our free online comparison tool. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes and there is no obligation on your part.

Frequently asked questions

Switch supplier and save up to £450.42* on your gas and electricity bills