What we do

Lease code

The last two decades have seen significant change in leasing practice, from a position 20 years ago where nearly all leases were 20 or 25 years in length, to the situation now where the average lease averages just 6.4 years.

This trend is illustrated by the latest BPF/IPD annual lease review.

Together with other changes in the market, such as the greater use of break clauses and flexible leasing products, the industry as a whole is now offering a choice of different lease terms; this compares favourably with other countries.

To further promote flexibility and choice in the leasing market, we worked with a wide range of other organisations to help draft and disseminate the new Commercial Lease Code 2007. The new code is much shorter and easier to use than its predecessors and sets out the full range of flexible elements that tenants should look for, and landlords should offer, in commercial leases.

To support the new code, we have also created an accreditation scheme for commercial landlords - the Commercial Landlords Accreditation Scheme (CLAS). This is open to BPF members and non-members.