Commercial Conveyancing

Services

Commercial Conveyancing Solicitors

Whether you’re an individual or a business looking to buy or sell commercial property or land, our specialist Commercial Conveyancing Solicitors are here to ensure your transaction proceeds in a straightforward, efficient and cost-effective way.

We take time to understand your requirements and what you want to achieve, providing solutions that fit your needs. Whether you’re an owner of land or a commercial property, a developer, a business, or an investor, our expert lawyers will guide you through the process from start to finish, offering practical legal advice tailored to your unique circumstances.

Due to the nature of commercial property, we regularly advise landlords on the preparation and sale of property with sitting tenants, as well as helping tenants to purchase the property they currently lease. Whatever your situation, as a Law Society accredited firm of conveyancers, you can rely on us to protect your interests and manage your sale or purchase effectively.

With a commitment to delivering excellent service, we aim to build a supportive relationship from the outset, communicating your legal rights, obligations and any issues that could arise promptly and clearly. Our experience enables us to identify and promote avenues and opportunities you may have not yet recognised.

We pride ourselves on keeping our promises and providing clear and detailed advice. You will always have direct access to your lawyer, who will proactively respond to your needs. We guarantee the highest-quality service and advice at a fair cost.

Choose Farnworth Rose for your commercial conveyancing needs, where you are more than just a client—you are a valued partner.

Why choose Farnworth Rose for commercial conveyancing?

Our founder, Richard Farnworth, and his team have a wealth of experience in managing the sale and purchase of commercial property and land. For over 35 years, we have been assisting clients with commercial conveyancing.

Having built many lasting relationships, we deliver value that benefits you long-term. Our technical skills and legal expertise cover all areas of a property or land transaction, whether freehold or leasehold. We will work directly with agents, surveyors and lenders, ensuring the process moves forward in a timely manner.

We support clients on title investigations, pre-contract negotiations, Commercial Property Standard Enquiries, the sale or purchase of the freehold, sale contract negotiation and exchange. We will assist with all completion and post-completion formalities, and we can act where property ownership disputes arise.

Our Commercial Conveyancing team aims to make each experience with us positive and rewarding, while bringing about the outcomes you need:

  • We are a leading commercial conveyancing law firm in the northwest.

  • Winners of Conveyancing Practitioner of the Year at the British Conveyancing Awards 2021 and highly commended Conveyancing Firm of the Year at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2023.

  • Law Society Accredited for Conveyancing

  • We ensure city-quality commercial conveyancing advice at a reasonable cost.

  • Our partner-led Commercial Property department provides the best, commercial-minded legal representation available.

  • As a full-service law firm, we harness broader legal expertise where necessary.

  • Adopting and working with the latest practice management technologies, we always ensure first-class productivity and communication.

  • Understanding your unique circumstances, we adopt a tailored approach that fits perfectly with your individual requirements.

If you have any questions, see us at our offices in Nelson, nr. Burnley. Or, if you’d prefer, one of our experts can visit you. We support people wherever they are, proudly serving clients locally and further afield across England and Wales.

Our Commercial Conveyancing expertise

We expertly advise clients on the purchase and sale of a variety of commercial real estate assets, including:

  • Agricultural land

  • Development land

  • Industrial units

  • Leisure premises, i.e. cafes, cinemas, gyms, hotels, pubs and restaurants

  • Mixed-use property

  • New builds

  • Offices

  • Retail premises

  • Storage facilities

Our experience ensures that we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that surround different types of land or property, and the variety of commercial objectives that  surround real estate acquisitions or disposals.

We are recognised countrywide as leading Commercial Conveyancing Solicitors. Our clients respect us for always going above and beyond and providing the best service possible every time.

Purchasing commercial property

There are many details to consider when buying commercial property. It is crucial to have access to expert legal support to secure the best deal for your investment.

We will guide you through each step of the purchase process, ensuring a smooth transaction by addressing all financial, legal and regulatory considerations. Our services include:

  • Pre-contract negotiations and enquiries: Undertaking pre-contract searches, investigation of title and Commercial Property Standards Enquiries (CPSE) forms.

  • Document draft and review: Examining the purchase and sale contract, transfer deed, Stamp Duty form, lease (if applicable) and mortgage deed.

  • Contract exchange: Negotiating completion date, transfer and arranging Stamp Duty payment.

  • Registering of transaction: Liaising with HM Land Registry.

Whether you are purchasing a small premises or a large commercial unit, we are committed to ensuring the process runs smoothly and efficiently.

Selling commercial property

Our experts are here to ensure your commercial sale proceeds smoothly. We offer a clear and comprehensive service, preparing the contract package for the buyer and advising you on any essential documents you may need to provide.

Our dedicated commercial conveyancing solicitors will work closely with you to understand your specific needs, including any deadlines or goals you require us to meet. We will keep you informed every step of the way, allowing you to plan ahead with confidence. Our services include:

  • Pre-contract negotiations: Accessing title deeds, leases and other relevant documents.

  • CPSE completion: Ensuring all documents are completed on your behalf.

  • Document draft and review: Assessing the purchase and sale contract, transfer deed and lease.

  • Contract exchange: Guiding the process forward efficiently to ensure a straightforward transaction.

  • Debt review: Arranging for repayment of any outstanding mortgages if applicable.

We have assisted businesses and individuals throughout the UK in selling a wide range of commercial real estate. Whether you are selling development land or your business premises, our team is here to support you.

Testimonials

“I was very pleased indeed by the way Farnworth Rose handled the sale of a property for me very recently. Carole, who handled my initial enquiry, was lovely, friendly, and efficient. Nina took over the case seamlessly and concluded it in the same manner. She made everything easy for me to understand, was polite without being obsequious, didn't waste time, and kept me informed at every stage. The charges were reasonable too! What more could you ask for? I would definitely use them again and will recommend to friends and family.”

“After being let down by a previous solicitor, who essentially rendered me homeless with a 1 year old, I came across Emma at Farnworth Rose, and my only disappointment is that I didn't fine her earlier. Emma and her team turned around the purchase of my home in just over 4 weeks ( the previous solicitor had been ' working ' on the case for 12 weeks ). Her team were empathetic to my situation, were proactive, efficient, and responsive. They went above and beyond for me, and I can't thank them enough.”

“Great experience! Communication has been excellent from friendly and professional staff. Fast to respond and all manners sorted within my expectations. Thank you Nina, Karen and Team. I will return to you again with more work.”

“I was extremely impressed with Helen and Dawn, they went above and beyond to help me with my house sale and purchase. I felt that they had my back and I trusted them to act in my best interest. They were 100% professional and delivered excellent customer service. I am eternally grateful and thankful that I chose the best conveyancer.”

“From start to finish both Helen and Dawn have gone above and beyond in assisting my elderly father to sell and purchase a property, They held our hands all the way. Thankyou.”

CPSE forms

CPSE forms are pre-contract agreements that sellers must complete to help streamline the process. Introduced in October 2002, these forms are essential for providing detailed information about the property being sold.

There are five CPSE forms related to commercial conveyancing, but the most important is CPSE 1, which covers all commercial property matters, including freehold, leasehold, vacant or tenanted properties. Supplemental enquiries forms that can be used alongside CPSE 1 include:

  • CPSE 2: Used when the property is sold with existing commercial tenancies.

  • CPSE 3: Relevant when granting a leasehold for the property.

  • CPSE 4: Applies if the property is being sold as a leasehold.

  • CPSE 5: Used when a lease is being surrendered.

The CPSE forms include various enquiries to provide the buyer with crucial details about the property. These include:

  • Ownership and maintenance of property boundaries

  • Notices under the Party Wall Act

  • Rights and easements affecting the property

  • Physical condition, including any structural defects

  • Presence of asbestos

  • Extensions or building works carried out in the last 12 years

  • List of items being removed from the property

  • Details of utilities and services

  • Fire Risk Assessment information

  • Current business rates

  • Insurance claims and existing insurance policy

  • VAT number and group registration details

Alongside your CPSE forms, sellers should also provide warranties, planning consent, a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate and building control approvals for any work conducted on the property.

For financial aspects of the CPSE forms, you may find it helpful to consult with your accountant to ensure accuracy.

Freehold vs leasehold

Commercial properties are sold either freehold or leasehold. If you own a freehold property, you fully possess the property and the land it is built on; this ownership remains in place until you sell.

If you own a leasehold property, you are leasing from its freeholder, with a right to use it for a fixed period. However, you do not have full ownership. The freeholder/landlord continues to own the property and the land it stands on. A commercial lease typically lasts 99-125 years but can be extended up to 999 years.

If you are considering purchasing leasehold commercial property, you must ensure the lease’s terms are practical and beneficial for your chosen purposes. We provide comprehensive lease review and drafting services, offering advice on assignments of extending leases, alterations and variations, always with your best interests in mind.

Overage and clawback

Overage, or clawback, involves a legal agreement between the seller and buyer of a commercial property whereby the seller benefits from a share of any future uplift in the property’s value if certain events occur. These agreements are in place in numerous situations, but the most common future trigger event is the grant of planning permission.

We provide expert advice on overage agreements to sellers and buyers. Whether you’re selling or purchasing property, we carefully align our advice to suit your commercial strategy, assisting in negotiations with the other party whilst protecting your interests and guaranteeing you benefit from future increases in property value.

Option agreements

An option agreement is a legally binding contract between a landowner and buyer that allows the buyer to potentially purchase the property if they do so within a set time frame and under specific conditions.

Option agreements present advantages and disadvantages for buyers and sellers. We deliver professional advice to potential buyers in drafting option agreements to purchase land or properties on pre-agreed terms at a fixed price or market price on a first-refusal basis, providing effective solutions should issues arise throughout the process.

Commercial Conveyancing Frequently Asked Questions

  • Commercial conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership or leasehold of a building, land or property used for commercial purposes. A qualified solicitor will typically undertake the work, walking you through the entire process and ensuring you have all relevant legal documentation to ensure a smooth transaction

  • The commercial conveyancing process has several stages for the buyer and the seller, including:

    • Pre-contract negotiations and enquiries

    • Document drafting and review

    • Contract exchange

    • Registration with HM Land Registry

    Any commercial conveyancing quote you receive from us will include work for all stages listed above.

  • In commercial conveyancing, a deed is a physical document that formally transfers ownership of a property or asset to the buyer. The title represents the legal ownership granted by the deed. When a business or individual purchases a commercial property, they receive both the deed and the legal title, confirming their ownership.

  • Commercial conveyancing is typically more expensive than residential conveyancing as the cost of running searches on a commercial property is higher than on a residential building. In general, there are more risks associated with commercial conveyancing. Also, the process is more complicated as tenants who lease the property still occupy many commercial properties.

    Our expert solicitors are familiar with the added difficulty of the commercial conveyancing process and have the skills and expertise to ensure the process runs smoothly from start to finish.

  • Although every commercial sale differs, we often estimate 6-8 weeks. However, this can change depending on the complexity of the case.

    We promise to keep you updated throughout the process; this will include up-to-date timescales to ensure you can always plan ahead.

  • The costs involved in commercial conveyancing can vary depending on the complexity of the transaction. We will always discuss the details of your case before providing you with a clear and transparent quote. If we go beyond the retainer and need to charge extra, we will keep you informed with regard to the fees involved and will never undertake any additional work without your consent.

  • We always recommend carrying out all the relevant searches during a commercial purchase.

    Depending on the type of property you’re purchasing, this could include:

    • Local authority search

    • Coal mining search

    • Environmental search

    • Water and drainage search

    • Chancel search

    We will be happy to advise you on which searches are appropriate.

    Conducting thorough searches is essential to uncover potential issues with a commercial property purchase. Our experienced solicitors will advise you on the most relevant searches for your property, ensuring you have all the necessary information to make informed decisions and safeguard your investment.

  • If you’re thinking about selling, it is often necessary to produce certain essential documents relating to the property. These can include:

    • Planning and building regulations

    • Asbestos survey

    • Energy Performance Certificate

    Providing the correct documents is vital to a successful commercial property sale. We ensure that essential paperwork is accurately prepared and presented, streamlining the process and ensuring compliance and clarity so you can confidently progress with your sale.

  • We will discuss your case with you to gain an understanding of your individual needs. We’ll then assign your case to one of our specialist solicitors who is best suited to meet the needs of your business. Our aim is to develop a strong relationship with you that doesn’t end just because your matter is resolved.

Contact our Commercial Conveyancing Solicitors

The law surrounding commercial conveyancing can be complex, and it is crucial to have accurate and professional advice from an experienced lawyer.

At Farnworth Rose, we are here to put your needs first; we commit to helping you achieve your goals while removing any hurdles and pain points. By choosing us to represent your interests over the purchase or sale of any real estate, you choose the best commercial property lawyers in the Northwest.

Our specialist commercial conveyancing solicitors are based centrally in Lancashire, in Nelson, near Burnley. However, we regularly help clients with commercial property matters in Manchester, Blackburn, Rochdale, Preston and Bolton, and across the Pennines in Leeds, Sheffield, Huddersfield and beyond.

Wherever you are in England or Wales, we deliver high-quality advice at a reasonable cost.

To talk to one of our specialist commercial conveyancing solicitors now, call us on 01282 695 400 or fill out the enquiry form below, and we’ll be in touch.