CBC
For landlords

Dilapidations advice for commercial landlords

Specialist preparation, service and progression of schedules of dilapidations and quantified demands. Acting for institutional landlords, private investors and managing agents nationwide.

Author
CBC Surveyors
Updated
Updated 2026
Reading time
6 min read

Overview

Landlord-side dilapidations is the discipline of recovering what the lease actually entitles the landlord to recover. Done well, the claim is structured to settle credibly at a defensible figure. Done poorly, the claim invites a much harder negotiation than the underlying merits warrant.

Where you are in the process

Landlords typically come to us at one of three points:

  • Preparing claim, pre-expiry, where the lease end is in sight
  • Lease ended, preparing schedule, terminal schedule needed
  • Schedule served, awaiting response, Pre-Action Protocol in motion

How we act for landlords

Our landlord-side work covers lease review, property inspection, preparation and service of interim and terminal schedules, drafting of quantified demands, response to tenant surveyor positions, Scott schedule preparation, Section 18 reasoning and full negotiation through to settlement.

Landlord's intentions and Section 18 second limb

Where the landlord's intentions for the property involve material refurbishment or redevelopment, the second limb of Section 18 can materially affect recovery. We advise on how to evidence and present the landlord's intentions so the recoverable position is as strong as the underlying merits allow.

Working with managing agents

We are routinely instructed via managing agents on behalf of institutional and private landlord clients. We work to the agent's reporting standards and the landlord's commercial parameters, providing the specialist surveying input that the agent's normal workflow does not cover.

Key takeaways

What to remember

  • 01Specialist preparation lands credibly and shapes the entire negotiation.
  • 02Section 18, including the second limb, is a landlord-side issue too, not just tenant defence.
  • 03Recovery is determined by the quality of the surveying input, not the asking number.
Landlord-side advice

Talk to a specialist landlord-side surveyor

Send the lease and the lease end date, and a specialist will return a clear scope and fee proposal the same working day.
Common questions

Frequently asked

Start your enquiry

Talk to a specialist dilapidations surveyor

Send a brief and a specialist will respond the same working day with a clear view on your position and the next practical step.

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