Supporting the ongoing legal management of commercial property in Jersey

The legal work around commercial property does not end once a lease is signed, or a development is completed. Ongoing property management is vital to maintaining asset value, ensuring compliance, and protecting relationships between landlords, tenants, occupiers, and managing agents.

Our Expertise

At BCR, our team of experts advise on all aspects of commercial property management in Jersey. From routine matters like licences and service charges to more complex issues involving subletting, consent requests, or breaches, we provide practical, responsive legal support that helps our clients manage their properties effectively and efficiently.

Our Approach

We act for landlords, tenants, asset managers, surveyors, and property companies, always aiming to resolve issues before they escalate and to deliver advice that is clear, commercially sound, and aligned with your strategic goals.

We support clients with a wide range of management-related issues, including:

• Licence to assign a lease or sublet premises.
• Licence for alterations (fitouts, signage, structural work).
• Service charge disputes and recovery.
• Rent review negotiations and implementation.
• Breach of lease obligations (repair, insurance, use, payment).
• Forfeiture and relief (termination and reinstatement).
• Variations to existing leases.
• Deeds of surrender (voluntary lease exits).
• Renewals and extensions.

We help clients take the correct steps at the right time, whether facilitating tenant flexibility or enforcing landlord rights, with documentation and advice that is tailored to the local legal context. We also advise on the following:

Acting for Tenants and Occupiers

We also advise tenants on their day-to-day rights and obligations under Jersey leases, including:

• Understanding their repair, reinstatement, and service charge responsibilities.
• Responding to landlord notices or demands.
• Negotiating alterations or improvements.
• Requesting consent for subletting or assigning the lease.
• Dealing with dilapidations or exit arrangements.
• Managing disputes over use, signage, or access.

Our team ensures that tenants are aware of their legal position, receive fair treatment, and can continue to operate with as little disruption as possible.

Licences, Consents and Side Letters

Jersey leases often require the landlord’s formal written consent for any:

• Assignment.
• Subletting.
• Change of use.
• Structural or material alterations.
• Installation of plant, signage, or branding.

We prepare:

• Licences to assign, including Authorised Guarantee Agreements (AGAs).
• Licences for alterations, often with reinstatement obligations.
• Consent letters for minor matters.
• Side letters to modify lease obligations temporarily.

We ensure documents are legally enforceable, proportionate, and properly integrated into the lease structure.

Rent Reviews and Service Charges

We advise on all aspects of rent reviews, including:

• Interpreting rent review clauses.
• Disputes over timing, method, or market rent assessment.
• Independent expert or arbitrator instructions.
• Settlement documentation.

We also assist with service charge issues, such as:

• Reviewing annual accounts and estimates.
• Resolving disputes over reasonableness and transparency.
• Enforcing or resisting payment obligations.
• Clarifying landlord responsibilities.

We work with property managers, accountants, and valuers to ensure legal and financial accuracy in all calculations and correspondence.

Property Management for Mixed-Use and Multi-Let Premises

For clients managing shopping centres, office blocks, or mixed-use developments, we provide coordinated support across multiple leases, including:

• Reviewing consistency of covenants and obligations.
• Addressing shared services and communal areas.
• Drafting estate regulations and management protocols.
• Advising on complex tenant disputes or policy enforcement.
• Managing tenant turnover and asset strategy.

We can also assist with structuring and updating long-standing management regimes where changes in law, tenant mix, or asset use require modernisation.

Our Values in Action

Excellence: In the accuracy, clarity, and consistency of lease-related documentation.

‍Delivery: On time, every time, in line with your commercial and operational timelines.

‍Respect: For your tenants, managing agents, and wider stakeholder relationships.

‍Elegance: Clean solutions to messy issues, expressed with professionalism and precision.

Why BCR Law

We deliver clear, practical legal advice that helps you manage your Jersey commercial property with confidence and control. From lease variations to service charge disputes, we provide responsive support that protects your asset value and keeps tenant relationships on track.