Review lease heads of agreement before the lease is drafted

The main value is catching important issues while the deal is still flexible. Early documents often set the commercial direction for rent, term, use of the premises, incentives, break rights, repair obligations and fit-out responsibility. If those points are vague or one-sided at HOA stage, the full lease may later reflect that position and become harder to negotiate. A review at this point helps you identify what should be clarified now, rather than discovering the problem only after the longer lease draft arrives.

Typical issues include unclear outgoings, broad repair wording, missing detail on rent review, narrow permitted use clauses, weak break rights, uncertain fit-out responsibility and gaps around assignment or subletting. Sometimes the problem is not an obviously bad clause, but a missing commercial point that leaves room for the other side to shape the full lease later. We look at where the wording may create cost exposure, operational restrictions or negotiation disadvantage once the matter moves beyond heads of terms and into the lease itself.

It can suit tenants, landlords, franchise operators and small businesses taking on premises where the early deal terms matter commercially. It is often useful for hospitality, retail, salon and service businesses where location, fit-out spend, trading restrictions or rent concessions can have a real impact on the viability of the site. If you already have a short-form deal document and want broader guidance on what it could mean in practice before the full lease is issued, this service is generally a good fit.

This page is intended for clients who want broader support around the early lease deal, not just a tight document-only assessment. That means the advice is not limited to spotting wording issues on the page. It also looks at how the commercial points are likely to play out when the full lease is prepared and where your bargaining position may need attention now. If you want a more contained review of a single document only, another service may be more suitable. If you want wider early-stage guidance, this one is built for that.

After the review, you will have a written summary and a consultation covering the main issues, the points worth raising with the other party and the areas that should be settled before the lease is drafted in full. Some clients use that advice to negotiate directly with the landlord or agent. Others ask for further help once the full lease arrives. If the matter develops into lease drafting, amendment work or negotiation support, we can discuss a separate quote for that next stage.

Working with us is simple. Start by submitting an enquiry through our website using the form at the top of this page or on our Get Started page. A legal project manager will review your enquiry within 1 business day and reach out to understand your needs.

They'll send you a fixed fee quote outlining costs, scope, and timing. If you're happy, you can accept and sign our engagement letter online. Once that's done, we'll connect you with an expert lawyer who will complete your project via email, phone, or video chat, with the timing confirmed in your quote.

If you're not looking for help with a specific matter, explore our platform, which offers free templates, tools to get your business set up, and even a free tier to get started. Whether you need legal support or just want to browse resources, we've got you covered.

At Sprintlaw, our pricing is transparent and designed for startups and small businesses. Many one-off legal services, including document drafting and reviews, are provided for a fixed fee with an upfront quote before you proceed.

Prices typically range from £100 to £1,500 depending on the complexity and scope of the work. For ongoing support, Sprintlaw Memberships include options such as legal templates, consultations, a legal helpline and credits for services.

If your project is larger or more complex, we will provide a tailored quote after understanding what you need.

Sprintlaw UK operates fully virtually, with the team working online across the UK to provide support to startups and small businesses nationwide. Many of our team are based in London and often meet at co-working offices, but our operations remain fully digital, ensuring flexibility and efficiency for both our clients and team.