Licence to occupy legal help for the practical steps and paperwork

That usually depends on the commercial arrangement and the level of control being given over the space. A licence to occupy is often considered for shorter-term or more limited occupation arrangements where flexibility is important, but the label alone is not decisive. The actual rights granted, the way the space is used and the surrounding documents all matter. As part of this service, we can look at the proposed arrangement and draft or review the paperwork accordingly, while flagging where the structure may need closer attention before you proceed.

A well-prepared licence to occupy usually covers the property or area being used, the permitted use, the term, fees or rent, access arrangements, services, repair responsibilities, restrictions on sharing or assignment, termination rights and any landlord consent requirements. Depending on the site, it may also need clauses on insurance, security, fit-out limits or operating hours. These points are not just administrative. If they are unclear, the parties can end up disagreeing about who can use the space, for what purpose, and on what notice the arrangement can end.

It helps to have the property address, the names of the parties, the area to be occupied, the intended use, the proposed term, the agreed payment structure and any special conditions already discussed. If there is a head lease, landlord consent requirement, side letter or existing correspondence about occupation, those documents are also useful. The more clearly the arrangement is described at the outset, the easier it is to draft or review the agreement in a way that matches the commercial deal and identifies any sequencing issues early.

That is a common issue in occupation matters. Some arrangements cannot sensibly proceed until a landlord, superior landlord, building manager or another authority has given consent or confirmed a requirement. We can advise on where those dependencies appear in the documents and how they may affect the order of steps. However, approval depends on the relevant regulator or authority, and third-party decisions sit outside Sprintlaw's control. This service does not include obtaining regulator approval or acting as your ongoing representative in negotiations with outside parties.

For a straightforward matter, drafting or review of the agreement can often be completed within about 5 business days after we receive the relevant information and documents. The overall matter may take longer if there are multiple parties, changes to the agreed commercial terms, or external dependencies such as landlord consent or local authority requirements. If approval steps are relevant, we will explain what needs to be prepared and what sits outside the legal work. so the legal drafting may be ready before the wider arrangement is ready to complete. We will flag those timing issues as part of the process.

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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.

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