The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement provided a mixed bag for SMEs. Whilst there were some significant announcements on business rates and taxes that will be broadly welcomed, there were some missing pieces of the puzzle. One of the most acute...
What is a pre-let?
A pre-let is a contract between a potential tenant and a commercial property developer which allows the tenant to agree to lease a building before the construction has started. Most likely to occur when there is a shortage of commercial property buildings on the market, entering into a pre-let holds both pros and cons for the parties that are involved.
Reasons why tenants enter into a pre-let agreement
Pre-lets are usually favoured when a tenant can no longer find a suitable property in their search area. The advantage of pre-letting an off-the-plan build is that it may allow the occupier to have some influence over the build design, therefore creating a space tailored to their business’ needs. Businesses may also turn to pre-lets as they are typically cheaper to lease than an already existing property. Pre-lets sometimes include agreements for discounted or rent-free periods.
Tenants that tend to benefit from a pre-let are usually the larger, more influential businesses. These types of organisations generally have the ability to commit to a longer leasehold that a pre-let building requires. However if a tenant is already bound into an existing lease, the tenant cannot enter into a pre-let unless there is a break or expiry in the lease.
