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HomeRent your propertyCommercial lease agreement

Learn more about Commercial Lease Agreement in India

A Commercial Lease Agreement is a contract between a property owner and a business owner, such as a merchant, artisan, or manufacturer. The owner might be an individual or a business. This business leasing agreement can be used in India to lease a restaurant, bar, warehouse, store, office, or factory for commercial purposes. The permissible business activity is limited and completely regulated by the commercial leasing agreement. The commercial lease agreement, which specifies each party’s rights and responsibilities, has the advantage of safeguarding both the lessor and the lessee, who must continue to operate their business for an extended length of time. If you wish to rent a house, you may use our Residential Lease Agreement template.

Table of contents


What is a Commercial Lease Agreement?

When a business property is rented from a landlord (or lessor) to a tenant, the Commercial Lease Agreement is employed (or lessee).

This Lease will give a quick and easy way to define all of the details of the agreement between the parties for commercial properties.

This Lease will form a legally enforceable contract between the parties, describing the landlord’s and tenant’s rights and duties. This lease has a variety of changeable terms, such as:

➤ Whether the parties are renting a portion or the entire property
➤ Whether other goods (such as fixtures) are included with the lease
➤ The lease's term
➤ Whether the renter will have the opportunity to extend the lease
➤ The amount and frequency of rent payments
➤ Whether a security deposit will be retained
➤ What the renter can do with the property
➤ How the agreement can be canceled
➤ The parties' rights "after a violation"

What is the law applicable to a Commercial Lease?

The requirements of the Transfer of Property Act of 1882 apply to commercial premises leases. Furthermore, under the Goods and Services Tax Act of 2016, the Goods and Services Tax may be applicable on the lease.

All leases with periods of longer than 11 months must be registrable under the Transfer of Property Act of 1882 and the Registration Act of 1908. Leases of 11 months or less, on the other hand, do not need to be registered with the Sub-registrar.

A leave and license agreement is more widely used for the leasing of business premises in several Indian states, such as Tamil Nadu.

When to use a Business Rental Agreement?

A lease deed is a written agreement between a landlord and a renter. When a property is rented for an extended length of time, such as 1-5 years or longer, a lease document is usually necessary. In such instances, a lease deed agreement plays a crucial role in sustaining the relationship between the landlord and the renter by establishing legally binding requirements.

How to use the Commercial Lease Agreement?

All stakeholders should get the finished paper (including any guarantors, if applicable). Each party should be allowed to read the agreement, which may take some time due to the length of the document.

The Lease Deed must be printed on non-judicial stamp paper or e-stamp paper, both of which are accessible in some states. The value of the stamp paper would be determined by the state in which it is performed, as well as the lease period and lease rent. Each state in India has its own regulations regarding the amount of stamp duty payable on the lease deed, which must be established based on the facts of the case.

The state government websites include information on the stamp duty payable. For example, the state of Tamilnadu’s website gives information on the stamp duty payable on lease deeds.

Both parties shall sign the lease deed after printing it on stamp paper or e-stamp paper, as applicable, and each party should preserve a copy of the lease deed.

What is included in the commercial Rental Contract?

1. Fit-Out Time

Fit-out period is a rent-free period agreed upon by the parties during which the lessee is not required to pay rent and the time length is utilized to allow the lessee to install essential equipment to use the property for the intended purpose. The fit-out term is normally agreed upon by the parties and might range from 3 months to 1 year, depending on the parties’ demands. If the parties agree, the fitout period might be extended. Similarly, the parties may agree on a maximum time duration for extending the fit-out term.

In the case of commercial reasons, fit-out is vital since the lessor/developer is needed to build the basic structure and pass it over to the lessee so that they may begin fit-outs. The parties may agree that if the lease is terminated, the fit-out may be removed by the parties.

2. Deposit for Security

Security deposits are also an essential component of business leases. The Security Deposit is an issue that may be assessed as 2-6 months of rent. The Model Tenancy Act now limits security deposits to a maximum of 6 months of the negotiated rent. The terms and circumstances for using the security deposit might be agreed with by the parties.

Furthermore, the process for refilling the security deposit for the term of the lease may be agreed upon by the parties. Because the security deposit is a large quantity of money kept by the lessor for an extended period of time, it is frequently interest free.

3. Structure of Locking

The idea of lock-in was created entirely by the regular practice of leasing facilities. The principle stems from the fact that the parties have joined together to enter into an agreement, and none of the parties shall incur a loss as a result of the early termination of the lease agreement or lease deed. Because there is no regulation controlling the lock-in period, it is a contractual obligation agreed upon by the parties.

Breach of the lock-in provision may result in particular quantities of money being paid to the other party, as agreed upon by the parties.

Typically, the lessor is locked in for the duration of the lease. The sole exception to the aforementioned lock-in condition is the lessee’s failure to pay rent. According to the parties’ agreement, breaking of lock-in may result in payment of rent for the remaining time of the lock-in.

4. Event of Force Majeure

One of the most significant aspects of a leasing agreement is force majeure. The force majeure provision is first utilized to establish which occurrences are considered force majeure. The repercussions of a force majeure occurrence may be resolved between the parties, just like any other contractual duty.
Depending on whether the force majeure incident is curable or not, the parties may decide on conditions such as non-payment of rent since the force majeure event, or the parties may opt to cancel the agreement.

5. Common area usage and upkeep feese

Commercial spaces in organized commercial buildings typically include common areas that are available to all lessees of the commercial property. The lessee is expected to pay maintenance charges for usage of the common spaces, which are normally based on the lessee’s share of the commercial building in terms of the area leased to the lessee.
Upkeep costs are charged to either the lessor (if the property is maintained by the lessor) or a third party designated by the lessor for commercial building maintenance.

6. Facilities and Equipment

The lessee may utilize some facilities provided by the lessor/developer. Plumbing and drainage, frisking area, air conditioning facility, power, fire detection, communication and security, vertical transit, water facility, and so on are examples of these amenities.

7. Parking Area

Because employees would be visiting the workplace on a frequent basis, commercial leases normally include a set number of parking places in the common lot. The lessee may also utilize additional parking places for a charge agreed upon between the parties.

8. Area for Advertising

The signage section is where the lessee advertises their branding. The leasing agreements for commercial facilities contain a provision for a signage area. The signage area is often a predetermined area to be utilized by the lessee.

What are the different types of commercial lease?

Full Service or Net Lease

The leasing arrangement that incorporates Expense Stop is known as a full service or gross lease agreement. The Expense Stop mechanism is a Full service or Gross leasing agreement method in which the lessee agrees to pay set operating expenditures and the landlord is liable for all operating expenses below the Expense Stop.

Expense stop can take the form of an agreed-upon sum, generally represented in dollars per square foot or square meter, or it can take the form of a base year stop. A base year stop equals the actual operating expenditures in the first year of the lease.

Lease on the Internet

A net lease is a commercial agreement in which the lessee pays all or a portion of the property’s taxes, maintenance costs, and insurance fees in addition to the rent. In the commercial real estate industry, a net lease arrangement is often employed.
Net lease is one of the most common instruments for commercial real estate investors who acquire property for income and don’t want to deal with upkeep, taxes, and insurance, among other things. In general, the Lessor utilizes the Net lease arrangement to shift his/her duty to the tenant and reap the benefits of the leased property without having to manage it.

The following are the several forms of net leasing agreements:

1. Single Net Lease Agreement: A single net leasing arrangement is a commercial real estate lease agreement in which the tenant agrees to pay all property taxes in addition to the rent. A Single Net lease arrangement allows the tenant to assume all of the property’s duties from the landlord. A single Net leasing agreement is a type of commercial lease arrangement that is less prevalent.

2. Double Net Lease: A double net lease is an arrangement in which the lessee or tenant is responsible for both the building’s insurance payment and the leased property’s property taxes. Regardless of the rent amount, renters on a single net lease are obligated to pay property taxes.
A double net lease, on the other hand, differs from a single net lease in that it passes on higher expenditures in the form of insurance payments. The landlord is still held accountable for the general upkeep of the property. In addition to the rent, residents must make an extra payment each month. The term “dual net lease” is often used in the commercial real estate industry.

3. Triple Net Lease: A triple net leasing agreement is a type of business lease arrangement that is often utilised. A Triple Net Lease arrangement is one in which the tenant agrees to pay all property-related fees, such as real estate taxes, insurance, and maintenance, in addition to the rent.

In the absence of a Triple, Double, or Single Net Lease agreement, the landlord must pay the entire amount.

Gross Lease Modification

A Modified Gross Lease Agreement is a form of real estate contract in which the tenant or lessee agrees to pay the fees from the start. Modified Gross Lease is a type of commercial lease that is commonly used in agreements when there is more than one tenant for a building or property. The renter or lessee is required to pay all taxes associated with the sections of the building room that he or she holds under this lease.

A modified gross lease is a hybrid of a gross lease and a net lease.
In a modified gross lease, the tenant is responsible for all expenses relating to his or her unit, including utilities, maintenance, and janitorial fees, but the owner or lessor is responsible for all other building or property running expenses.

Lease by Percentage

A percentage lease is a type of commercial real estate contract in which the lessee or tenant agrees to pay a low rent and split a portion of the revenue with the landlord.

What landlord needs to know before renting?

If you rent out a home to renters, it is your legal responsibility to keep the facilities “habitable” by maintaining the plumbing, repairing the structure, and keeping it structurally sound. The landlord has the following key roles and obligations:

1. Maintenance

According to section 108(f) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, one of the landlord’s important duties and obligations is to maintain or repair a building property and ensure that the tenant always has the necessary items such as running water, electricity, and so on, and if such repairs are done by the lessee, he has the right to deduct such expenses from rent fees. Landlords must also keep common spaces in good condition, keep up with maintenance, and adhere to all health and construction requirements.

2. Hand over custody of the unit

Since renters sign the lease agreement, it is the landlord’s job to deliver possession of the unit or office space, according to section 108(b) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. If renters move into the unit or office space after the agreement is signed and discover that the unit is not vacant, the tenant may initiate legal action against the landlord.

3. Rent Receipt

A landlord is required to provide a Rent Receipt to a tenant who pays rent. The receipt must include the tenant’s name, the month and year of rent paid, the amount received, and the signature of the landlord or his authorized representative.

4. Safety

Landlords must assure the safety and upkeep of the leased property’s occupants. It is your responsibility as a landlord to maintain and check the leased property and to offer a free and safe environment within the leased property.

What tenant should know before renting?

1. Rent

A tenant’s first and most important responsibility is to pay rent on time. Section 105 of the Transfer of Property Act of 1882 defines rent as “the money, portion, service, or other item to be provided.” The rent is specified in the lease agreement. If a tenant fails to pay his or her rent, the landlord may deduct the amount from the security deposit and take legal action if the default is repeated.

2. Avoid utilising the property for unauthorised reasons

he renter owes it to the landlord to refrain from abusing the rented property. The renter must be truthful about his or her plans for utilizing the premises. Assume renters sign into a lease agreement with a landlord claiming that he will utilize the property for office space while, in fact, he will use the leased property for unlawful activities. The landlord has the power to cancel the lease in this situation.

3. Obligation not to cause annoyance

The renter shall not interfere with the use and pleasure of neighboring property owners in an unreasonable manner. Unreasonableness is difficult to describe since it varies from situation to case. As a result, landlords specify the limitation by including clauses in the lease that prohibit renters from causing disruption and causing a nuisance to other tenants by generating excessive noise, for example.

4. Allow the landlord access to the property

Because the landlord is accountable for the premises, he or she has complete ownership over the tenant’s or lessee’s residence. The landlord, on the other hand, cannot access the tenant’s office space without prior notice.

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