Guidance

Meanwhile use lease and guidance

Specimen meanwhile use lease and guidance notes (for direct lettings by a landlord to a temporary occupier).

Applies to England

Documents

Details

These leases have been prepared as part of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) Meanwhile Project to encourage the temporary occupation of empty town centre retail premises by non-commercial occupiers, who will be able to contribute to town centre vitality but who would otherwise be unable to afford normal commercial rents.

We envisage that temporary occupiers might include voluntary or charitable groups, information centres, artists, musicians etc.

The purpose of these specimen leases is to provide an industry standard legal instrument to minimise administrative and legal costs for both landlords and tenants and to enable temporary occupation to take place as soon as possible, without the need for lengthy legal procedures. The parties are recommended to seek legal and professional advice in each case before signing.

The leases, drafted by lawyers Denton Wilde Sapte on our behalf, may be used freely. However, if you plan to use one of them, you will need to satisfy yourself that it is suitable for the letting in question, with any necessary adaptations, taking legal advice as appropriate. While we have used our best endeavours to ensure that the leases will be suitable for most temporary lettings, DCLG cannot take any responsibility for use of the leases.

Published 14 November 2012