Whether you’re leasing an office in the CBD, signing up for warehouse space in Western Sydney, or renting out a shopfront in the Inner West, the terms in your commercial lease will affect your business for years. Getting them wrong can mean paying more than you should in outgoings, being locked into unfavourable rent reviews, or discovering at lease end that your make good obligations are going to cost tens of thousands of dollars.
At Lease Lawyers, we provide fixed fee commercial lease services for landlords and tenants across Sydney and New South Wales. We draft, review, and negotiate lease agreements that protect your position, whether your property falls under the Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW) or is governed by general commercial lease principles.
Our commercial lease agreements start from $950+GST. That’s a fixed fee quoted upfront, covering the full process from initial consultation through to the signed agreement. Enquire Online Now
We prepare lease agreements that clearly set out what both parties are responsible for. Every lease we draft covers rent, lease term, permitted use, outgoings, maintenance, rent review mechanisms, options to renew, and make good obligations. We tailor the agreement to your specific property type and commercial arrangement, so you’re not working off a generic template that misses the details that matter to your situation.
If you’ve been handed a lease to sign, we go through it clause by clause and tell you what it actually means for you in practical terms. We flag the provisions that could cause problems, such as outgoings definitions that are too broad, rent review clauses that only work in the landlord’s favour, option notice deadlines that are easy to miss, and make good requirements that could cost you significantly at lease end. Most clients find that the cost of a lease review pays for itself many times over by catching issues before they become disputes.
Most lease terms are negotiable before signing, but many landlords and tenants don’t push back because they assume the document is standard. We negotiate on your behalf to secure terms that actually reflect your priorities. For tenants, that often means rent-free periods, fit-out contributions, outgoings caps, and limitations on personal guarantees. For landlords, we focus on strong default provisions, clear rent review processes, and practical restrictions on assignment and subletting.
Strata is a major part of Sydney’s commercial property landscape. Leasing premises in a strata scheme means the lease needs to work alongside the owners corporation by-laws, and both parties need to understand how common area costs, building management decisions, and maintenance responsibilities interact with the lease terms. We handle the overlap so there are no surprises.
Sydney’s industrial corridors through Western Sydney and the Sutherland Shire involve lease considerations that don’t come up in a standard office lease, including permitted use restrictions, environmental compliance, heavy vehicle access, and specialised fit-out requirements. We prepare industrial lease agreements that address these needs alongside the standard commercial terms.
When a dispute arises over rent, outgoings, maintenance, make good, or any other lease issue, we work to resolve it as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. For retail lease disputes, the NSW Small Business Commissioner provides a mediation service that can resolve matters without the cost of tribunal or court proceedings. For non-retail commercial leases, we handle negotiation, mediation, and representation at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or in court where necessary. Enquire Online Now
Not all commercial leases in NSW are treated the same under the law. Whether the Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW) applies to your lease changes your obligations significantly.
The Act applies to premises used wholly or predominantly for retail sales or services, provided the floor area is 1,000 square metres or less. If it applies, landlords must provide a disclosure statement at least seven days before the lease is signed, certain types of rent review clauses are restricted, outgoings can only be recovered if they were properly disclosed, and security deposits are capped and must be lodged with the NSW Small Business Commissioner.
If your premises fall outside the Act (as most offices, industrial sites, and larger commercial spaces do), the lease is governed by general contract law. This gives both parties more flexibility, but it also means less statutory protection for tenants. In these cases, the lease agreement itself is your only safety net, which is why the quality of the drafting matters so much.
Regardless of whether the Retail Leases Act applies, commercial leases in NSW with a term exceeding three years (including options) should be registered to remain enforceable if the property changes hands.
If your lease involves retail premises specifically, our retail lease lawyers can help with the additional compliance requirements. Enquire Online Now
You’ve found a space and been handed a lease to sign. Before you commit, we review the agreement and tell you exactly what you’re signing up for. We identify the clauses that could cause problems and negotiate changes where needed.
You’re a landlord and need a lease drafted. We prepare an agreement that protects your property investment with clear tenant obligations, structured rent reviews, and practical provisions for dealing with default, assignment, and make good at lease end.
Your rent review is coming up and you’re not sure where you stand. We review the rent review clause in your lease, advise on the process, and help you understand your options if the parties can’t agree on the new rent.
Your tenant wants to assign the lease. We assess whether you can reasonably refuse consent, prepare the assignment documentation, and make sure the incoming tenant provides appropriate security.
The lease is ending and there’s a disagreement about make good. We review the clause, tell you what’s actually required, and negotiate with the other party if the scope or cost is disputed.
You need to exit a lease early. We review your options, whether that’s assignment, subletting, negotiated surrender, or relying on a break clause, and advise on the approach that limits your financial exposure. Enquire Online Now
Fill out our enquiry form or send us a message. We respond within 2 business hours.
We discuss your requirements and give you a fixed fee quote before any work begins. No obligation.
We prepare your lease agreement or review the one you’ve received, making sure it complies with NSW law and protects your interests.
You review the draft and come back with any questions or changes. Revisions are included in the fixed fee.
We guide you through execution and advise on next steps, including registration for leases exceeding three years. Enquire Online Now
Fixed fee from $950+GST. No hourly billing. You know exactly what your lease will cost before we start, and that fee covers the full process including revisions.
NSW legislation expertise. We work with NSW commercial property law regularly. Your lease will reflect the legal requirements specific to this state, not a one-size-fits-all template.
We act for both sides. Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, we bring the same attention to your agreement. Understanding both perspectives means we draft leases that are practical and less likely to end in a dispute.
All property types covered. From CBD offices and retail shopfronts to industrial warehouses and strata commercial premises, we handle leases across every commercial property category in Sydney.
Fast turnaround. We respond to enquiries within 2 business hours and most standard lease agreements are completed within 3 to 5 business days. Enquire Online Now
Our fixed fee for drafting a commercial lease agreement is $950+GST. This covers the full process from initial consultation through to the completed agreement. For lease reviews and more complex matters, we provide a fixed fee quote after understanding your requirements.
The Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW) applies to leases of premises used wholly or predominantly for retail sales or services, where the floor area is 1,000 square metres or less. Most offices, industrial premises, and larger commercial spaces fall outside the Act. If you’re not sure, we can assess your situation and let you know which rules apply.
The most important areas to review are the rent review mechanism, outgoings definitions, make good obligations, permitted use restrictions, assignment and subletting rights, personal guarantee terms, and termination provisions. We check all of these as part of our lease review service and explain what each one means for you in practical terms.
Make good obligations set out what the tenant must do to restore the premises at the end of the lease. This can include removing fit-outs, repairing damage, repainting, and returning the space to its original condition. Without a clear clause, disputes about the scope and cost of these works are common. We make sure the lease spells out exactly what’s expected so there are no surprises.
Yes. Most terms are negotiable before signing, including rent, lease duration, rent-free periods, outgoings caps, fit-out contributions, option terms, and personal guarantee limits. Many tenants accept terms they don’t need to because they assume the lease is standard. Having a lawyer involved during negotiations often results in meaningfully better terms.
Leases with a term exceeding three years (including option periods) should be registered under the Real Property Act 1900 to ensure they are enforceable against future purchasers of the property. If the property is sold and your lease isn’t registered, a new owner may not be bound by it.
Your options depend on what the lease says about default and termination. Most leases require you to issue a formal notice giving the tenant a period to remedy the breach before you can take further action. The steps you need to follow are important, because acting without proper notice can expose you to a claim from the tenant. We advise landlords on the correct process based on the specific lease terms and NSW legislation.
For retail leases, disputes can be referred to the NSW Small Business Commissioner for mediation before proceeding to NCAT. For non-retail commercial leases, the dispute resolution process depends on what the lease says. Most leases include a clause that requires negotiation or mediation before court proceedings. We represent clients across all forums and focus on resolving matters as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.Enquire Online Now
We provide commercial lease services to clients across Sydney and throughout New South Wales. Our fixed fee services are delivered online and over the phone, so your location doesn’t affect the service you receive or the price you pay.
Whether your commercial property is in the Sydney CBD, North Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, Liverpool, Sutherland, or anywhere else in NSW, we can draft, review, or negotiate your lease agreement.
Contact us today, we generally respond within 2 business hours.
