FAQ

We get it.

You have questions. Check out the below, still not have the right answers? Reach out and we're happy to chat!

I've been handed a lease by the landlord, do I actually need a lawyer?

If it's under $50K total rent over the term and the landlord is your mate, maybe not.

If it's a five-year lease on a warehouse, retail shop, or office with a bank guarantee attached, yes. Nex Legal charges a fixed fee to review it, and I'll tell you inside the scoping call whether it's worth engaging us or whether a red-pen session is enough.

How much does a commercial lease review cost?

Fixed fee, quoted before we start, based on the length and complexity of the lease.

Most standard commercial leases sit in a defined range, with a flat fee. No billable-hour surprises. No "we'll send you a bill at the end". You get the number before you sign anything with us.

What's actually in a "lease review"?

I read the whole thing. I mark up the key clauses that are weighted against you (e.g. rent review mechanics, make-good scope, assignment restrictions, bank guarantees, outgoings, break clauses, options).

You get a redline document, a plain-English summary, and a 30-minute call to walk through it. Then you decide what to negotiate.

The landlord says the lease is "standard" and non-negotiable. Is that true?

No. "Standard" is a negotiation tactic.

Landlords expect operators with good legal advice to push back and they usually give ground on make-good, bank guarantee quantum, rent review methodology, and option terms. In my view, the ones who don't negotiate are telling you something about how they'll behave for the next five years.

What about make-good? How do I avoid the end-of-lease horror story?

Make-good is where most commercial tenants get stung.

The fix is to get the right level of clarity around what falls within the obligation and what is excluded. We look at this specifically to give you certainty.

How fast can you turn a lease review around?

Standard turnaround is 5 business days from receiving the lease. Urgent (signing this week) is 48 hours, same fixed fee. If the landlord's given you a "sign by Friday" deadline, we'll push back on the deadline first to make sure you're able to sign the lease fully informed.

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