When I work on a commercial matter whether it be a business purchase or a negotiating a dispute resolution one of my first actions is usually to talk to the client’s accountant.

Among the most crucial relationships a business can establish and foster is the one between its lawyer and accountant. A harmonious working relationship between these two experts can provide multifaceted benefits to your business.

Commercial leasing is a cornerstone of the business landscape in New Zealand, enabling enterprises to secure suitable spaces for their operations.

While standard leasing considerations like rent, lease term, and maintenance obligations are crucial, there are several unconventional aspects that businesses may need to contemplate when entering into a commercial lease agreement. In this article, we delve into some often-overlooked factors, including fire curtains, trading times, animals on premises, and EV car charging in carparks.

A leaky roof is a big problem that can impact the functionality, safety, and overall value of a commercial property. This article offers insights into how landlords and tenants can address and mitigate leaky roof concerns to ensure a successful leasing experience.

You may be leasing a commercial property for a variety of business purposes, such as offices, retail spaces, warehouses, and industrial facilities.

It has become increasingly common for Limited Partnerships to be used as a vehicle for property developments.  In this article we discuss the main features and advantages of a Limited partnership.

Recent planning legislation changes have seen many local councils define various areas of land that are now zoned for more intensive housing.

The Government’s long awaited rent relief proposal - will it really help those who need it most?

There has been a lot said about the “No access in emergency clause”. It also raises the question as to how much a fair proportion of rent is and thus, how much relief tenants can in fact get.

We have had many enquiries from clients who are tenants under a commercial lease asking whether they can suspend rental payments or even terminate their leases due to the impact Covid-19 has had on their business.

Too often we encounter clients who have not received legal advice before signing an Agreement to Lease or Deed of Lease for their business premises.

Most commercial leases contain 'make good' clauses.

The financial collapse of Mainzeal Property and Construction will have far reaching effects; redundancies, sub-contractors’ temporary loss of access to their tools of trade, disputes as to the ownership of tools, goods and materials on various building sites, the financial impact on sub-contractors with progress payments and retentions be halted and the flow on effects on investors and associated industries.

Many tenants under commercial leases seek to negotiate a shorter initial term with rights to renew the lease in the future, rather than committing to a long term lease at the outset.

Landlords are often confused as to whether the terms of their lease or the provisions of the Property Law Act 2007 (PLA) prevail when cancelling a commercial lease. It is vital that landlords understand the distinction and cancel a lease correctly to avoid a tenant seeking damages for wrongful cancellation of the lease.

In New Zealand, when purchasing a property personally with another party you can choose to own the property as Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common