Leases

We have acted for landlords and tenants for over 40 years, so we understand the legal issues from both perspectives.

Dimos Lawyers advises landlords and tenants on all aspects of commercial and retail property leasing.

We can provide advice and representation for every element of a lease, including compliance with all relevant legislation.

Dimos Lawyers has acted for both landlords and tenants for over 40 years, giving us an excellent understanding of the law from both perspectives.

Leasing advice for landlords

We act for a vast array of private property owners, investors and property syndicates in the Melbourne CBD, as well as for shopping centre owners and other landlords across Victoria. For decades, our clients have looked to us for advice and expertise when leasing out their properties. Landlords have trusted us to draft and negotiate leases that protect their assets and their income. Our team’s paramount duty is to ensure that our clients’ interests are protected and that they have security in the event of a lease default. Should a dispute arise with your tenant, and alternative dispute resolution fails, we have the litigation experience needed to initiate and conduct court proceedings.

Leasing services for landlords

We help landlords with:

• Drafting and advising on commercial or retail leases
• Negotiating terms with tenants
• Due diligence and investigation of tenants
• Transfers of lease
• Drafting and negotiating licence agreements
• Dispute resolution, including privately organised mediation, and mediation through the Small Business Commissioner
• Initiating and defending Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) proceedings
• Initiating County Court proceedings for loss and damages against tenants and guarantors

Leasing experience

Our extensive leasing expertise in acting for landlords includes:

• Acting for a large number of property owners throughout Victoria, including many in the Melbourne CBD, inner Melbourne and Victoria’s most noteworthy shopping strips
• Negotiating and managing leases to Australia’s largest retail tenants and financial institutions
• Acting for shopping centre owners throughout Victoria, including managing tenant issues during the lease term, and renewals of lease
• Issuing default notices due to tenant breach, and coordinating repossession if a default is not remedied
• Investigating incoming tenants, including their financial standing and business experience
• Drafting transfer of lease documents
• Defending injunctions and other proceedings issued by tenants
• Recovering unpaid rent and outgoings by issuing court proceedings against tenants and guarantors (see our litigation practice area)

Leasing advice for tenants

We act for some of Australia’s most prominent retail brands and a vast array of other tenants in the Melbourne CBD, Victoria’s largest shopping centres and elsewhere across the state. This depth of experience gives us the skill to rapidly identify any hidden traps in lease agreements. We take the time to explain to our clients in plain language their rights and leasing obligations. Our lawyers keep up to date with changes in the law and have access to the latest online commentary and legislation.

Leasing services for tenants

We can help tenants with:

• Negotiating lease terms and any other related deeds and agreements
• Transfers of lease
• Dispute resolution
• Initiating and defending proceedings in VCAT and the County Court
• Obtaining landlord approval for subleases
• Managing disputes with landlords
• Issuing injunctions against landlord default notices
• Issuing proceedings for damages against landlords (see our litigation practice area)

Experience

Our expertise and experience in acting for tenants includes reviewing and advising on lease documents, drafting and negotiating offers to lease and heads of agreement, and negotiating lease terms. Over the years, we have assisted tenants in dispute resolution and litigation arising from breaches of lease, defending against injunctions and other court actions against landlords.

Our notable clients include:

• A major retail coffee network with over 50 stores across Australia
• A leading Australian-based international fashion label
• An international Italian restaurant brand with 135 restaurants worldwide

We also work for a large number of cafés and restaurants, as well as clients leasing premises in Victoria’s largest retail shopping centres, and others leasing industrial property and commercial offices.