Commercial leases: five clauses to negotiate before you sign

Headline rent is rarely what makes a commercial lease expensive. The cost sits in the clauses around it, and most of them can be negotiated before signing.

Indexation and service charges

Check which index applies, whether there is a cap and how service charges are calculated and reconciled. Over a ten-year term, these terms often matter more than the starting rent.

Fit-out, security and reinstatement

Agree who pays for the fit-out, what the landlord contributes and what must be removed at the end of the lease. Bank guarantees and deposits should step down as the tenant builds a payment record.

A way out

Fixed-term leases in Poland generally cannot be terminated early unless the contract says so. A break option, even with a fee, is worth negotiating for any business that expects to grow or relocate.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice on any specific matter.