Lease renewal

Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (as amended) is the primary legislation governing lease renewals in England and Wales. Landlords must be aware of their rights and obligations under the Act to ensure they maintain and improve investment values.

The Act details how a landlord can terminate a lease with a section 25 notice, and how a tenant can request a new tenancy with a section 26 notice. It also covers how landlords can oppose renewals and how new rents should be determined.

There are a small number of important exemptions to the Act that landlords should be aware of, and some significant case law that clarifies key issues.

This section is maintained by Peta Dollar, freelance lecturer, trainer and writer.

Document template: Lease renewal process flowchart

RICS standards: Surveyors acting as arbitrators in commercial property rent reviews

RICS standards: Surveyors acting as independent experts in commercial property rent reviews