It goes without saying that every business owner has an obligation to maintain good relations with their employees and their customers. If you are leasing a commercial property, however, you also should strive to stay amicable with your landlord.
If a dispute arises between you and your landlord, it can disrupt the flow of your business and thus cut into your profits. By familiarizing yourself with some of the common causes of disputes between landlords and commercial tenants, you can make a conscious effort to stay on good terms.
Rent disputes
Disputes concerning rent commonly arise when the tenant withholds payments, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Even if you feel that your landlord is in breach of your lease agreement, it is often best to continue to fulfill your payment obligations and find an alternative method of resolving any outstanding issues.
Renewal disputes
When the time comes to renew your lease, you might have every reason to believe that your landlord will maintain the same terms and rent requirements through your new contract. However, the terms of your lease might allow for your landlord to make changes at the time of renewal, giving rise to a dispute especially if you are already accounting rent payments into your future budget strategy.
Lease assignments
If you make the decision to sell your business before your lease is up, you might try to transfer the property to the new owner through a lease assignment. Doing so without the approval of your landlord, however, can give rise to a dispute and even legal action.
There are times when it might feel like you are at odds with your landlord as a commercial tenant. By maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship and preemptively mitigating the risk of a dispute, you can carry on with business worry-free.