How do I check a counselling practice’s office lease flexibility for sessions rooms?
Read the lease for what it says about subletting, renovations, shared use and ending early, then ask the landlord what would be allowed. Flexibility matters most if you plan to add session rooms or share space with other counsellors. Ask what the landlord has said before.
Counselling depends on private, quiet rooms, so a lease that limits how you use the space can limit the practice. Ask the seller for the full lease and any amendments. Look at the length remaining, renewal options, who may approve changes and what happens if the practice wants to add or reconfigure rooms.
Check the practical points. Is soundproofing allowed? Can you rent a room to another practitioner? Can walls be moved? Does the landlord need to approve each of these, and have they ever refused? Ask your lawyer to read the lease with the question in mind, since the wording matters and a summary can miss details.
Then speak to the landlord, with the seller’s consent. Ask whether they would accept the lease transferring to you and what they would want in return. Also ask about shared areas such as waiting rooms and washrooms. If you plan to grow, make sure the premises can handle more clients without upsetting neighbours. Keep records of whatever the landlord confirms. Also consider timing. If the lease is close to its end, ask who decides on renewal and when, since a sale can fall awkwardly between terms. Get the answer in writing where you can, and avoid assuming that the landlord’s goodwill will transfer.
Key takeaways
- Get the whole lease, including every amendment.
- Check subletting, renovation and renewal terms.
- Ask the landlord directly about transfer and growth plans.
- Have your lawyer read the wording.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernment13 terms you need to understand before signing your commercial real estate lease
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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