Commercial Rent Reviews
Redbrook Commercial are Rent Review Surveyors who specialise in assisting landlords and tenants with rent review negotiations.
What is a commercial rent review?
A commercial rent review is a standard provision found in commercial property leases, typically negotiated between the landlord and tenant when the lease begins.
Commercial property leases are often signed for extended periods, although shorter lease terms have become more common recently. The purpose of a rent review clause is to establish a process that ensures the rent paid by the tenant remains consistent with prevailing market conditions, thereby reflecting the current market rent.
Why use a rent review surveyor?
Rent review surveyors specialise in facilitating rent negotiations for landlords and tenants. They offer expertise in understanding rent review clauses, conducting accurate property valuations, utilising market knowledge, and providing negotiation strategy advice.
Using a rent review surveyor when negotiating a rent review will almost certainly provide you with the best possible outcome.
How Redbrook Commercial Can Help With Your Rent Review?
Our RICS qualified team act for both landlords and tenants in the resolution of rent review matters. We take a unique approach to rent review services which has been designed to keep the process as cost effective as possible for the client.
We advise on a large number of commercial rent reviews throughout South London, Surrey, Kent and Sussex. Our expertise covers a wide range of commercial property including offices, industrial premises, retail and leisure outlets.
If you’re facing a rent review, either as a landlord or as a tenant you can contact us directly with questions and we can provide advice.
Rent Review Reports
Redbrook Commercial provide detailed rent review reports designed to give landlords and tenants a complete understanding of their position before entering negotiations.
Our reports are structured, evidence led, and commercially focused. They provide everything required to approach a rent review with confidence, clarity, and a defined strategy.
Whether you are seeking to maximise rental income or ensure you are not overpaying, our reports set out the full picture in a clear and practical format.
Contact us today to discuss your Rent Review.
Tenant Rent Reviews
Redbrook Commercial provides expert advice and rent review services to tenants, ensuring rental increases at review are kept to a minimum.
We streamline the process by preparing a clear, initial assessment report for a fixed fee, giving clients an informed starting position.
Where required, we then handle negotiations on a supplementary fee basis, keeping costs proportionate and transparent.
Our approach is focused on delivering practical, cost-effective outcomes for tenant clients.
Rent Review Reports
Landlord Rent Reviews
When instructed to act for a landlord in relation to a review at one of their properties Redbrook Commercial will aim to ensure that any rental increase is a reflection of current market conditions.
Redbrook Commercial have an extensive database of comparable evidence to ensure that all review valuations can be underpinned by tangible market evidence.
Landlord Rent Reviews
National Rent Review Services
Redbrook Commercial provide national rent review advice to both landlords and tenants across the UK, delivering clear, commercially focused guidance to support informed decision-making.
Our service begins with an initial desktop rent review report, offering a cost-effective and efficient assessment of rental value based on market evidence and lease terms.
This early-stage advice enables clients to understand their position, manage risk and make informed strategic decisions before progressing to negotiations or formal proceedings. Where required, we can provide full representation to ensure continuity throughout the rent review process.
National Rent Review Services
A rent review is a process within a commercial lease where the rent is reassessed to reflect the current market level. It ensures that the rent being paid is in line with comparable properties at the review date.
A rent review is triggered by a clause in the lease. At the review date, the landlord and tenant negotiate the new rent based on market evidence. If they cannot agree, the matter may be referred to an independent expert or arbitrator.
Rent reviews usually take place every three to five years, depending on the lease. The exact timing and mechanism will be set out in the lease agreement.
In many UK commercial leases, rent reviews are upward only, meaning the rent cannot fall. However, some modern leases may allow for downward movement or be linked to an index.
An upward only rent review means that the rent can only stay the same or increase at review. It cannot decrease even if market rents have fallen.
If the parties cannot agree the rent, the lease will usually provide for referral to an independent expert or arbitrator who will determine the rent.
The new rent is based on open market rental value. This is assessed using comparable evidence and applying the lease assumptions and disregards.
Surveyors rely on comparable lettings of similar properties, taking into account location, size, condition and lease terms.
It is strongly recommended to appoint a specialist surveyor. They can interpret the lease, analyse evidence and negotiate effectively on your behalf.
Each party usually pays their own professional fees unless otherwise stated in the lease.
A tenant can seek to reduce the proposed rent by challenging the landlord’s evidence, providing better comparables and relying on the lease terms.
You should review the lease, take professional advice and respond promptly. Early engagement often leads to a better outcome.
Yes. A rent review can be challenged based on incorrect assumptions, weak comparable evidence or changes in the market.
Ignoring a rent review can result in the landlord progressing the matter and potentially securing a higher rent without your input.
Rent reviews can take several months and in some cases over a year, particularly if referred to third party determination.
Landlords can maximise rent by presenting strong comparable evidence, preparing early and instructing an experienced surveyor.
Yes. A surveyor can help secure the best outcome and ensure the lease is correctly interpreted.
Yes. In most cases, any increase in rent is backdated to the review date once agreed or determined.
A rent review memorandum is a document that records the agreed new rent and is attached to the lease.
This means that strict deadlines do not apply to the review process, and a review can still be completed after the review date.
Assumptions and disregards are lease provisions that define how the property is to be valued, such as assuming it is in good repair or disregarding tenant improvements.
This type of review links rent increases to an index such as RPI or CPI rather than open market evidence.
A rent review adjusts the rent within an existing lease, whereas a lease renewal involves granting a new lease, often under statutory rights.
There is no fixed limit. The increase depends on the difference between the current rent and the market rent at the review date.
