Ending Your Tenancy

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens at the end of my lease - will I be granted a new lease?

A commercial lease usually continues until its end date unless a termination clause has been included. Before your current lease ends, we will aim to contact you six months prior and discuss options with you.

Please note that the District Council is not always obligated to renew your lease. Reasons 
for not renewing your lease include, but are not limited to: 
• You have rent arrears 
• You have not maintained or repaired the premises to an acceptable standard 
• You have not maintained mandatory compliance standards 
• Anti-social behaviour

How do you decide the terms of my new lease?

We will contact and discuss the terms of your new lease with you. If you want to discuss a renewal at any point, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Newark Beacon Centre Management Team:
Email: beacon@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01636 653100.

Notice periods

If your lease permits you to terminate before the end date, you must give the required amount of notice as specified in your lease. Notice must be given in writing as set out in your lease; a telephone call or email is not sufficient. 

Notice must be served on the District Council for the attention of the Newark Beacon at: 
Newark and Sherwood District Council, Newark Beacon Business Centre, Beacon Hill Business Park, Cafferata Way, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 2TN.

Repairs, decoration and condition

Before you leave, you must provide the District Council with full vacant possession and leave the premises in good condition, repair and compliant as set out in your lease. The premises must be handed back in the same layout as when you took occupation. Reference will be made to the Schedule of Condition carried out at handover to you.

What do I need to do before moving out?

All your goods, fixtures and fittings, including any tenants' improvements or alterations to the property, must have been removed from the premises and any damage caused by their removal must be made good. The repair, decoration and compliance requirements under the lease must be complied with. Any additions to the standard electrical fit-out must also be removed.

The property must be left clean and tidy and suitable for immediate occupation.

What are dilapidations?

Dilapidations are those works which, in the opinion of a landlord, are necessary to ensure a tenant has complied with their repairing decoration and maintenance obligations under the terms of the lease. 

In assessing your dilapidations liability, we will have regard to the photographic schedule 
of condition attached to your lease (if applicable). 

The District Council will exercise the right to inspect the premises, prior to the expiry or termination of the lease, and will, if necessary, serve notice on you of those matters which require to be rectified to ensure compliance with your maintenance obligations. In some circumstances, the Council reserves the right to instruct a third party specialist to assist with this process.

Usually you will be notified of your dilapidations responsibility by being sent a document called a 'Schedule of Dilapidations'. If you do not undertake the work within a specified time, the Council reserves the right to arrange for the work to be undertaken and to recover the costs from you. The Council may also seek to claim loss of rental income on the grounds of failure to comply with the lease obligations if this has delayed the letting of the property to another tenant.

Clearing the property

As well as carrying out any repairs we consider necessary, you must make sure that all your goods and equipment are removed from the property and it is left clear, clean and tidy. If you leave any items in the property, we will give you reasonable notice that they must be removed. If you do not remove the items within the time frame indicated in the notice, the Council will deem these as abandoned and we reserve the right to sell or dispose of anything you have left. You will be responsible for any costs we incur, and we will use the proceeds of any sale towards any outstanding payments due to us. If we have to clear the building, we will not accept responsibility for loss caused as a result of the removal of any item from the property.

When you leave

On the date you leave you will need to: 
• Notify your suppliers. 
• Secure the property and return all keys to the Centre Management Team. Please note that returning the keys before the agreed vacation date will not terminate your liability unless previously agreed in writing by the Council.