General/my submission Flashcards
What are the challenges the retail market has faced?
“Multi channel
Reduced footfall
Rise in turnover rents
Covid
Inflation/rise in living costs”
What are the use classes?
“B2 - General Industrial
B3-B7 - Special industrial groups
B8 - Distribution and storage
C1 - Hotels and Hostels
C2 - Residential institutions
C3 - Dwellings, houses, flats & apartments
C4 - Houses of Multiple Occupation
E - Commerical, business & service (Shops)
F1 - Learning & non residential institutions
F2 - Local community
Sui generis “
How did Covid affect the economy and real estate market/current market news?
“Government debt because of Covid crisis will be driver for economy
High inflation
Low supply
Ukraine War
Energy Crisis
Tax cuts”
SDLT cuts
Slowing economic growth
Rising interest rates
Chancellors recognition that planning system is too slow
New Prime Minister
Business rates reval next year - online tax/shorter reval cycle
ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)
How did Covid affect the retail market?
”- Tenants more likely to exercise break clauses
- Lower headline rents
- Alternative rent review basis
- More letting incentives
- More flexible/shorter leases
“Turnover rents
Pandemic clauses
Why didn’t you refer to any of the RICS Covid guidelines?
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What was the user clause for my property?
E
What were the RICS and Governement guidelines during Covid?
Government: Code of Practice for commercial property relationships during the COvid-19 pandemic
If I had acted on behalf of the landlord what would your initial approach have been?
- Check the lease to see if its inside the 1954 Act
- Speak to the tenant about their intentions
- If you wished the tenant to stay serve a friendly s25 notice
- Or serve a hostile s25 if you wish to determine the lease
Given the landlord was at £40k and you £15k, what other negotiation approach could you have taken?
The approach was the right one given the relationship with the landlord and to reach settlement through negotiation. If I knew the renewal was going to be contentious then I would have suggested serving a Calderbank or advising my client to push the court timetable to try and achieve a settlement.
What are business rates?
A tax on the occupation of non-domestic property
What is Rateable value?
Estimated annual rental value of a commercial property. Used to determine how much a company pays for business rates
When is the next revaluation?
Apr-23
How are rates payable on a building calculated?
Rateable value x UBR (uniform business rates)
What is the current UBR?
“51.2p standard
49.9 for small business”
What was the wider Boots Opticians strategy and how big was their portfolio?
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What was the structure of the Boots property team?
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Would the canopy have impacted anything and would an end allowance be warranted?
All the shops on the parade had a canopy and and there was no evidence to suggest that an allowance was warranted.
What is the process at the end of a lease renewal?
Engrossments, completion statement, singatures, SDLT and post completion matters
“There is a large range in the market rent. ERVs provided by surveyors are usually single figure?
“
I appreciate that in private practice you would present the client normally with a singular figure. However this was not a red book valuation as it was one for internal use. It was quite normal to present this range to our leadership team and my line manager and I could hold very open conversations when it came to budgeting and forecasting rents, depending on the evidence.
Why is this range of figures based on a 5 year lease?
- The evidence was such were five year leases. The likelihood was that my client would take a 5 year lease or a 5 year lease with a 3rd year break.
What is the benefit of a longer term to a landlord?
Longer term rental income, which means an increased investment value
Why is a longer term more important to some landlords than others?
Some in say a high value building want the longer term rental income, or where they spent a lot on fit out. Some may have a business model to offer flexibility to tenants. Or if a landlord wants to redevelop or relet they may only grant a short term lease.
Why did you feel comfortable agreeing to the landlords smaller areas? Should you not have shared your areas?
There was not a material difference. The other side were represented by a qualified chartered surveyor who was their to act in the best interest of his client and they were not a vulnerable individual who were not represented, so I do not feel that I was acting without integrity. I was acting in the best of my client and agreeing the slightly smaller areas was advantageous for my client.
Was the interim rent agreed net of rent free or was it headlining?
Headlining
Is it ethical to not have raised the sales floor valuation point? Why did I take this approach?
Was there evidence to support the higher rate on the first floor
Seek advice if vulnerable client
Good result for my client and would have been negligent to my client
” How has your client occupied an expired lease?”
Under s24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954
Why would a Landlord/occupier serve a renewal lease notice? For what purpose?
- Either to determine the lease
- Or to offer renewal terms to the tenant
Did I consider using PACT? When would you use this and why?
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If a s26 notice is served with a long notice but the current lease has already expired, when will interim rent be applicable from? How many months from now?
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What were your options to proceed with the renewal if neither parties could agree renewal terms?
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What happens if the landlord does not accept my Calderbank?
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What does contracted inside the landlord and tenant act mean and which parts offer protection?
It means the tenancy has protection under parts 24-28 of the L & T 1954 Act and the tenant will remain holding over once the lease expries and then can only be brought to an end by the serving of notices past lease expiry. THe also have a statutory right to renew their lease.
What are the pros and cons of breaks and the risks around serving them?
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Is there any governing advice as to structuring Heads of Terms?
The RICS Professional Statement Code for Leasing Business Premises
Why did you seek 6 months rent free at renewal?
The Landlord had already offered 3 months rent free. I sought an extra 3 months to further assist my client’s cash flow to support their continued occupation of the property. I knew that given that the landlord had already offered 3 months and with the market and vacancies as they were I know there was a strong chance they would accept this.
Is there any scenario where you would have considered serving a section 25 notice if you were the landlord, even though the property is overrented?
Serving a hostile notice if you had plans to occupy the property or if you had plans to redevelop the property, or any of the grounds of opposition
Tell me one mandatory/best practice item within Code for Leasing - September 2020 effective, 1st Edition, February 2020
- It’s objective is to improve the quality and fairness of negotiations
- Provides comprehensive recommendations on Heads of Terms to help make legal drafting more efficient
- Part 1 Introduction
- Part 2 Mandatory requirements
- Negotiations and Heads of Terms
- Appendix A & B HoTs template and guide
- Negotiations over the lease must be approached in a constructive and collaborative manner
- Must advise other party about the code and must advice they seek professional representation if they are unrepresented
What is a Joint tenancy?
“A legal arrangement where two or more people own/lease a property each with equal rights/obligations
- Rights of Survivorship
- Tenancy in common would pass to heir”an
Can you tell me about any case law surrounding break clauses?
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What two other ways a tenant can end their lease other than at a break or a lease expiry?
- Surrender
- s27 notice
- Assign or sub let
How do breaks affect landlords’ investment value? Why?
Is it likely that a tenants going to break?
Multi national? Are they breaking lots?
Risk and yield? Assume void period? Don’t model break, put a higher risk yield on reversion?
Why do we have allowance when zoning?
Allows you to compare different properties with different physical properties to compare market value
What would you do if you had no comparable evidence?
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Why did I use the zoning technique and what is it? HUT?
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What other variables affect Zone A?
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Why did I think the High Street and Touchwood Centre were prime?
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Why is it harder to get information out of independent retailers?
They may be reluctant to or unwilling to share rental details as it ….
What other lease terms affect value at rent review and lease renewal?
- Rent review frequency and basis
- Alterations
- Use
- AGA
- Alienation
Did the solihull lease allow for residential use? If so would your approach to valuation differ?
Comes down to the comparable evidence, what are the uses of the other comparables? Same with office. Can it be let as a separate flat? It has no separate access therefore even if we wanted to we couldn’t let it. Therefore highest value would be retail ancillary. If others are letting it out as resi and we could then. We did have some retail flats and we applied a management discount.
Who was an independent on the parade that you contacted?
Livs Furniture
Does covenant strength play a part in valuation in a lease renewal?
Investment valuation yes - LR no
Do some investment valuations - hardcore/T&R
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What would an organisation have to do if they wanted to store personal data on a computer?
- In line with GDPR/Data Protection Policies
- Stored securely
- Users data permission
Tell me about the Accrington lease renewal
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Tell me about the Seaton dilaps claim
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Tell me more about the issues experienced with Entain at NCH
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Tell me more about the Access Licence at Bishop Stortford
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Tell me about the Redcar renewal
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Tell me more about the Corby lease renewal and access issue
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Tell me more about the York access issue
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Tell me about the LC2 rent review
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Tell me about the Bromsgrove lease renewal
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Tell me about Northallerton lease renewal
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Tell me more about the Lowestoft Lease Renewal
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Tell me more about the Droitwich rent review
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Tell me about RICS Guidance Note - Surveying safely: Health and Safety Principles for Property Professionals
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Tell me about RICS Professional Statement: RICS Property Measurement, 2nd Edition January 2018
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Tell me about Red Book Global Standards: RICS Valuation - Global Standards, November 2021 effective from 31st January 2022
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Tell me about RICS Professional Statement Code for Leasing Business Premises, 1st Edition Feb 2020, effective 1st September 2020
- Its objective is to promote fairness and quality of negotiations- It’s objective is to improve the quality and fairness of negotiations
- Provides comprehensive recommendations on Heads of Terms to help make legal drafting more efficient
Tell me about RICS Guidance Note: Code of Measuring Practice, 6th Edition May 2015 (excludes offices and resi)
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Tell me about RICS Guidance Note: Commercial Property Management in England and Wales. 2nd Edition October 2011, effective from October 2011
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Tell me about RICS Guidance Note: Comparable Evidence in Real Estate Valuation, 1st Edition, October 2019
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What are Entains short, medium and long term goals?
What were Boots short, medium and long term goals?
What impact would the valuation have on mutual break clauses?
Essentially unprotected lease
Lose stat comp
Uncertainty
Is there comparable evidence/what are the comps showing
Britel Fund Trustees v B&Q (Valuation on interim rent around mutual break)
Hot topics
EPCS
Green Leases
MEEs
Low carbon construction
ESG
Covid
COP26
EWS1 forms
Grenfell & Fire Safety
IPMS
New use class order - hope to increase flexibility to prevent the high street from dying
Brexit - supply, staffing, skill shortage
New Rules of Conduct
Working from home
Ukraine - sanctions, energy, social human impact
Corporation taxation increase
New Japanese knotweed professional statement
Market uncertainty post Covid and during Covid
CDM 15
IFRS 16
Pandemic clauses
Coronavirus Act 2020 - moratorium on commercial property evictions
Expert Witness Guidance note is being updated
Red Book
What was Hart v Large
Negligence by a surveyor who carried out a home buyer survey- provides importance guidance on the scope of a surveyors duty when advising prospective purchasers
What is meant by the term passing rent?
Annual rent currently generated by the property and is recorded on the balance sheet
How do you compensate the tenant for improvements at the end of the lease?
- Lesser of increase in market value or cost of works
- Must have had landlord’s consent
- Must claim within 3 months to terminate
Explain the difference between surety and guarantor?
Surety - offer security for payment of debt
Guarantor - agrees to guarantee certain obligations
What is franchising?
The franchisee has the right to market or service using the trademark and logo of another business
What is the Boots Optician franchising model?
- Assessment of prospective franchisee
- Franchise agreement drafted detailing the commercial agreement between BOPSL and franchisee
- Either sub lease or joint tenancy arrangement which we would aim to make concurrent with the frachisee agreement
- New incoming franchisee we would assign the lease normally having built in provisions within the lease to allow transfer to a new franchisee without landlords consent
How would your inspection with retail and office properties?
How would your approach differ between different inspections?
What is the definition of pitch?
Pitch refers to the positioning of the property on a retailing parade, and how much footfall it receives, how prominent the units are, quality of the units, how desirable it is for a tenant to be located within that part of the parade
What should be included on the GOAD?
North point, copyright and scale
Assuming it was only a minor leak, how would your approach have differed in Redcar if the water had been coming in in a greater volume?
Asked our staff to raise a work order with our maintenance team to try and alleviate the flow of water within our demise, through use of a water catcher. If the store was flooding then a decision would have had to have been made to close the store. I would have put our insurers on notice.
Corporation street, Corby - what would have happened if the Landlord had said no to the inclusion of rights for emergency escape?
We would have had to carry out a renewed fire assessment to check the travel distances within the property and whether there was a suitable alternative, or whether staff were able to escape from the front of the building. If not, then part of the store would potentially be rendered unusable and our ability to utilise the shop affected. As we were at lease renewal I would have flagged this point to the landlord and would have argued that 0 value be placed on the part of the shop that was rendered unusable. Possibility for prescriptive easement? It may have been that the landlord would be open to agreeing a Fire Escape Licence in exchange for a licence fee, which would leave my client vulnerable if they ever wished to terminate the licence.
Why did you not measure LC2?