Selling Commercial Property Solicitors

As a seller, you’ll need to supply information about the property to your buyer. This includes title documentation and evidence of your ownership, details of any charges or mortgages to be discharged on completion, replies to commercial property standard enquiries covering matters such as planning, environmental issues and ongoing disputes, and details of any existing tenancies if the property is currently let. We gather this information, advise on any issues it raises and present it to the buyer’s solicitors in an organised way.

Buyers often ask sellers to give contractual warranties, which are promises about the state of the property and the accuracy of the information you’ve provided. If a warranty turns out to be incorrect, the buyer may have a claim against you after completion. We review warranty requests carefully, advise on what you can properly provide and negotiate limits and carve-outs to protect your position. Where necessary, we also advise on managing warranty risk through proper disclosure.

An overage agreement, sometimes called a clawback clause, gives you the right to receive an additional payment if the buyer later develops or improves the property in a way that increases its value. They’re common in sales of development land or properties with planning potential. We draft overage provisions and advise on trigger events, calculation mechanisms and enforcement, making sure the clause will be effective if the time comes to rely on it.

Title issues can arise for various reasons, including missing deeds, boundary uncertainties, unregistered land or unresolved planning matters. A title issue doesn’t necessarily mean a sale will fail, but it needs to be dealt with promptly. We identify issues early, advise on how to resolve them and work with you and your buyer to find a practical solution. This might involve indemnity insurance, rectification steps or additional negotiations with the buyer.

Timescales vary depending on the complexity of the transaction, the nature of the property and how quickly both sides can respond to enquiries. A straightforward sale might complete in 8 to 12 weeks. More complex transactions, particularly those with title issues, development land elements or multiple parties, can take longer. We work efficiently and communicate clearly, so you know what’s happening at every stage and any delays are addressed as quickly as possible.