Understanding your obligations as a first-time commercial property tenant is imperative to safeguard your best interests. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the tasks that you are obliged to oversee, as well as those that should be handled by any responsible commercial property landlord. In most cases, building insurance is not one of those liabilities for tenants, contrary...

When it comes to commercial property, not all units are the same. As a result, each commercial property is given a classification based on the unit’s age, aesthetics and overall infrastructure. These office gradings are commonly used by commercial real estate landlords to identify fair lease costs per unit. If you are unclear what distinguishes between Grade A, Grade B...

This year promises to be a tremendous opportunity for the city of Birmingham to rebound fast in the post-pandemic era. The impending 2022 Commonwealth Games in the ‘Second City’ represents a golden chance for Birmingham to shine on the world stage, cementing it – and the rest of the West Midlands – as a world leading hub for investment, trade...

If you are thinking about leasing a commercial unit for the first time, the chances are you’ll be focused on the monthly rent first and foremost. That’s a natural thing to do as it’s an immediate hit to your bottom line. However, it’s also important to be mindful of your legal obligations regarding the condition of the property when the...

A new report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has indicated that nationwide demand for commercial property has now exceeded pre-pandemic levels. In its Q4 2021 commercial property survey, the RICS noted a shift in demand to office space, suggesting that fears of long-term repercussions from the Covid-19 pandemic are beginning to wane. Nevertheless, the survey did show...

England’s ‘Second City’ of Birmingham is said to have recorded an increase in gross value added (GVA) to its economy of 7.5% in Q4 2021. That’s according to a joint study undertaken by Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics & Business Research (Cebr) titled ‘UK Powerhouse: Overcoming Disruption in 2022’. In addition, the report states that Birmingham’s employment forecast...

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced £1bn worth of additional funding to support businesses hit by the recent spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. With the rise in Covid cases soaring nationwide, devolved governments and the UK government are weighing up new restrictions to maintain public health and protect the NHS. A large part of the £1bn...

Warwick’s Wedgnock Industrial Estate is home to a host of prominent multinational corporations, which lean heavily on the town’s impressive transport links and proximity to the heart of the West Midlands economy. The most notable tenants include the UK headquarters of IBM, the operational headquarters of Telent and Volvo Group Financial Services. If being a neighbour of these illustrious, global...

Rugby Borough Council has submitted proposals for an ambitious Rugby Town Centre Regeneration Plan, designed to revamp and regenerate its town centre. The borough council believes the time is right for a “once-in-a-lifetime” overhaul of the town, with its “bold vision” focused on giving the town’s economy a brighter future. Councillor Seb Lowe, leader of the Rugby Borough Council, says...

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has revealed new legislation and a new Code of Practice designed to handle the issue of outstanding commercial rent debts accrued during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. The UK government has shielded commercial property tenants from potential eviction until 25th March 2022, giving businesses and their landlords ample opportunity to discuss the way forward regarding...