Danny Revitt
Partner
Property Litigation Solicitors
From lease breaks and dilapidations to regeneration challenges and adverse possession, get practical advice focused on achieving balanced and cost-effective outcomes.
Expert legal advice on property litigation
We will work with you as long-term legal partners to support complex, high-value cases wherever they arise.
Real estate conflicts can be disruptive, costly, and time-consuming. Our sector specialists can provide your business with strategic guidance on portfolio management matters to ensure your wider asset strategy is secure.
Get property litigation support on:
- Lease disagreements, rent reviews, and break clauses
- Dilapidations claims and service charge issues
- Adverse possession and boundary matters
- Possession proceedings and injunctions
- Regeneration and construction conflicts
- Strategic guidance on portfolio management
- Alternative settlement methods, arbitration, and legal action.
What are the most common causes of commercial property disputes?
Commercial property disputes often arise when the relationship between landlords and tenants breaks down over financial or contractual obligations.
Common types of commercial property litigation include:
- Lease-related - This includes business lease renewals (both contentious and non‑contentious), challenges when exercising break options, and lease surrender negotiations. Disagreements over consent for assignments, sub‑letting, change of use, or alterations also commonly fall under this category.
- Property condition - Many disputes stem from the state and upkeep of a property. These typically involve dilapidations claims, alleged breaches of covenant, and cases involving forfeiture or applications for relief.
- Service charges - Financial disagreements often relate to rent, service charges, and other costs connected to the management or operation of a commercial property.
- Access - Disputes in connection with development agreements and site assembly issues (including easements and rights of way disputes). Other issues involve the recovery of land from unlawful occupiers or squatters, where swift legal action is often required to regain possession.
Disputes also commonly arise when a lease is ending or due for renewal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, especially if either the landlord or tenant disagrees about their rights or the reasons for refusing renewal.
If you need help resolving a commercial property dispute, our property solicitors can assess your situation and guide you toward a practical, cost‑effective solution.
Speak to a member of our team
Our team support you to navigate complexity, seize opportunity and move forward with legal clarity.
What do I need to know about dilapidations claims and maintenance responsibilities?
Dilapidations claims typically arise at the end of a commercial lease, when a landlord seeks compensation for repairs needed to the property.
Key issues often relate to:
- Maintaining the premises throughout the lease, including repairs and compliance with any repairing covenants.
- The landlord’s schedule of dilapidations, which sets out alleged breaches and the costs of fixing them.
Tenants should also be aware of the Section 18 cap, which limits a landlord’s claim to the actual loss in property value, stopping them from claiming more than the actual loss caused by the disrepair.
Contact our specialists
Get strategic advice from a team that knows how to protect and grow your business. Please complete our enquiry form and one of our experts will contact you by the next working day.
Alternatively, you can call us now.
Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (Excluding Public Holidays).
03308226108
What are the key legal aspects concerning property development and land rights?
Property development often involves complex legal considerations, and misunderstandings at any stage can lead to costly commercial disputes.
Key legal aspects include:
1. Planning permission and regulatory compliance
Before development can begin, the correct planning permissions must be obtained from the local authority. Disputes frequently arise where applications are refused, challenged, or subject to restrictive conditions.
2. Land ownership and title issues
It’s important to be sure who legally owns the land. Issues like unclear boundaries, old restrictions on how the land can be used, shared access rights, or claims by others can slow down or even stop a development.
3. Rights of way and access
Access to the site can give rise to disputes if rights of way are unclear or contested. Negotiating easements, resolving obstructions, or formalising access agreements often becomes necessary when neighbouring landowners are involved.
4. Option agreements and overage clauses
Developers often use option agreements or overage (clawback) clauses to secure the right to buy land in the future or to share in any increase in its value. Disputes can happen when people disagree about what the agreement means, when certain steps should happen, how the land should be valued, or whether the development conditions required to trigger payment have been met.
5. Environmental and conservation considerations
Some land is protected for environmental or conservation reasons. Understanding these requirements early on helps ensure the development meets the right standards and avoids delays or extra costs later. Find out more on our Environmental Law for Businesses page.
6. Contractual disputes with contractors and consultants
Development projects typically involve multiple parties, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and surveyors. Disputes may relate to delays, defective work, cost overruns, or professional negligence. Clear, well‑drafted contracts (such as JCT or NEC forms) help define responsibilities and reduce ambiguity.
7. Local authority and community challenges
Developments can attract objections from local residents, interest groups, or even the local authority itself. Judicial review claims, consultation challenges, or disputes over the interpretation of planning policy can prolong or threaten a project.
Need advice on development or land rights issues? Speak to our commercial property experts today.
Making an enquiry
We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.
Complete our online formWe need a few details to understand your situation and the kind of support you need.
We’ll contact you by phoneOn the call our experts will ask you a few more questions to make sure we connect you with the right legal advice from our team.
We arrange a full appointmentIf we’re able to support you further, the next step is an appointment with one of our specialists so we can discuss everything in more detail.
Our commitment to you
Our experts always start by listening, so we understand what matters most from day one.- 01Clear legal guidance
You will always get straightforward, honest advice, with regular updates to keep you clear on the way forward.
- 02Specialist knowledge
A wide-ranging team of trusted specialists who understand what it takes to protect your future, your family or your business.
- 03Your needs first
Whether you’re navigating complex personal situations or business decisions, we take the time to understand your world and what’s at stake.