Dilapidations

Repairing Obligations

Dilapidations are breaches of covenant to repair a building contained in a lease. Such breaches can take many forms and the liability to repair can have serious financial implications.

It is therefore important to seek the advice of a Chartered Surveyor on opportunities to avoid, limit or mitigate dilapidations before entering into a lease, or when a schedule of dilapidations has been served at the end of the lease.

From a landlords viewpoint it is essential that the premises are returned in a fit state to command an open market rent thus preserving the investment value. Accurate schedules that will stand legal scrutiny will therefore need to be prepared that can be negotiated and enforced