Most business tenancies for workshops or offices have historically been granted under long-term full-repairing leases. The tenant is locked into an agreed term that does not allow future flexibility if the business grows or contracts. If you are lucky or unlucky enough to be such a tenant, long after you vacate the premises, if you are unable to sell on that leasehold arrangement, you will still be liable for the rent and all the other obligations provided under the lease.

Tenants at Highgate Works sign only a “licence” that may be ended with three months’ notice by either party.  The licence provides use of the property for agreed business purposes only allowed by Wealden District Council.  Tenants agree to return the property in the state in which it was in at the start of the term.  A small deposit is taken at the outset that is returned at the end of any tenancy when the property is returned safe and sound.

Leasehold good quality office accommodation in the East Grinstead area is between £14 and £27 per square foot for space around 1000 square feet. Accommodation which is as large as 30,000 square feet can be much less, around £6 per square foot. Premises less than 1000 square feet are hard to find and are usually more expensive per square foot.

HIGHGATE LICENCES.
PURPOSE BUILT BUILDINGS WITH B1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE, ALSO REFURBISHED OLDER OUTBUILDINGS FROM TIME TO TIME.

Short term licences which either party may terminate with THREE MONTH’S notice.
A few yards just off the main A22.
We carry out all external repairs .
CAR SPACES are charged at £7 per space per week which can be deducted if included if not required.
We maintain the car parks, the road and the country fencing and try to keep the place looking attractive.

SECURITY
Security after hours and at weekends, is handled by Roy Fairbrother who lives near the site.
For the older buildings without toilets : OUTSIDE MALE & FEMALE TOILETS are cleaned daily and consumables replaced.
Communal use of dustbins costs £4 per 300 litres of waste.
NO LEGAL FEES, unless you wish to instruct a solicitor yourself.
We supply a weatherproof name sign for the car spaces required per tenancy and the accommodation.

KEY INFORMATION ABOUT RENTING AT HIGHGATE

Because we buy in bulk, ELECTRICITY which includes “climate change levy” is supplied by e-on at a low rate, 11 pence per unit or kilowatt hour (). Normal daily standing charge is levied @ 15.65p per day.  Electricity is measured on an individual premises meter.

RENT PAYMENT BY STANDING ORDER
An example: If the tenancy starts on January 1st. The initial payment (three months’ rent in advance) will cover rent up to the end of March. First payment by standing order on February 1st will pay rent for the month of April.
It follows, that if three months’ notice to end the tenancy is given part way through any month, there will be still to pay that part of the final month that matches the rental days in the current month that have just passed. In other words if you wish a tenancy to end on August 15th; and you give notice on May 15th, the rent for 1st to 15th August is to be paid either separately or by the standing order that should be paid on 1st June which pays for the whole of August. In this case any overpayment of rent will be refunded at the end of the term.

DECORATIVE ORDER DEPOSIT
It is understood that the deposit is held to ensure that the property is returned in the same decorative order is in most cases forfeited. Fair (and unfair) wear and tear must be made good, and this includes paintwork and carpets. Most companies look at the loss of deposit as a very low cost way of paying for carpets and paintwork.  The deposit amount however in no way fixes the cost of fixing the delapidations.  For example if you leave a deposit of £100 and manage to remove the roof then the deposit amount does not provide a limit of liability.

However, the deposit will be gladly refunded in full, if the property is returned in the same condition as it was on the first day you moved in (this realistically will usually involve quite a bit of restorative effort).

INSURANCE
Norwich Union provide property insurance as one policy on the whole of Highgate Works. The premium is divided up among all occupiers and based upon the rental area in square feet of each. All external repairs and maintenance, toilet and communal area maintenance, central heating, leaf clearance remain the responsibility of the landlord. The tenant is responsible for all interior decoration. The office will be newly decorated and carpeted and a deposit will be retained to ensure that the premises are returned in the same decorative order at the end of the tenancy.