The Property Law Act 2007 ("PLA") codifies – very strictly – the process and means by which a commercial tenant may be evicted for non-payment of rentor some other breach of its lease obligations. Whether you are the landlord or the tenant,it is critical you understand your rights and obligationsin an eviction scenario.

The leasing market is ever changing. Many would argue the current economy to favour tenants – there are a myriad of vacant properties currently available,and a definite lack of (quality) prospective tenants available. Many tenants are looking to down size, if not liquidate, leaving landlords ("LLs")in the unenviable position of being forced to consider short term and stop gap solutions for their own cash flow purposes. Enter the commercialreal estate agent, armed with an agreement to lease ("ATL") .... but beware, both LL and tenant, once signed the ATL will legally bind you tothe terms specified and your lawyer will be unlikely to be able to re negotiate your lease. It is important – if not critical – therefore, thatboth sides fully consider the ATL in detail before signing such. A few key considerations are as follows: