{"id":184079,"date":"2023-11-22T22:00:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T22:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=184079"},"modified":"2024-11-27T05:51:15","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T05:51:15","slug":"alterations-commercial-lease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/commercial-lease-property\/alterations-commercial-lease\/","title":{"rendered":"What Alterations Can Commercial Tenants Make to a Property?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a commercial tenant, it may be necessary to make alterations to the commercial property you are leasing. However, the kinds of alterations you can make will usually depend on the type of premises and the amount of control the commercial landlord has over their commercial property. If you make alterations to the property contrary to the lease agreement<\/a>, you might face a costly dispute. To help you avoid a lease dispute, this article explains the different alterations a commercial tenant may make to a commercial lease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changes to the Exterior and Structure  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most commercial lease agreements generally prohibit changes to the exterior and structure of the commercial premises. Your commercial lease agreement likely refers to all external vertical services as \u2018elevations\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practically speaking, a landlord is unlikely to allow any alterations by a tenant to the outside of the leased premises. After all, a commercial landlord will want to ensure that alterations do not make it difficult to let their property in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-Structural and Interior Changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most commercial leases will allow the commercial tenant to make alterations to the interior of their commercial premises. However, commercial tenants usually need to obtain the landlord\u2019s prior permission prior to making these alterations, unless the alterations count as improvements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The law states that when requesting a landlord’s permission for alterations, a landlord cannot unreasonably withhold their consent. However, where the lease is a short-term lease of fewer than ten years, it does not allow any modifications, including internal ones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Where alterations do not require the landlord’s consent, the lease may specify that the tenant should still let the landlord know these will occur. Often, all changes to the commercial property will be in a formal written licence. This will detail:<\/p>\n\n\n\n