Ending a lease early

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In the event a tenant or lessor is considering ending a commercial or retail shop lease before the agreed date, it is important to understand the options and the potential consequences.

Provisions of the lease

Leases usually contain rights for tenants or lessors to end a lease before the end of the term in certain circumstances, including (but not limited to):

  • if one party defaults,
  • unforeseen and unavoidable catastrophes (force majeure),
  • demolition or renovations.

If you believe you have the right to end your lease early, consult your legal adviser to ensure you follow the correct process outlined in your lease and understand any implications, such as providing notice or paying compensation. Failing to do so may have serious consequences.

Periodic tenancies

A periodic tenancy rolls on, usually on either a weekly, monthly or yearly basis with no end date. The lease may be periodic from the start, or a fixed lease may end but the parties agree to continue the tenancy on a periodic (month to month) basis.

Under a periodic tenancy, either party can terminate the lease (without reason) on the last day of the next period of the tenancy (termination date) by giving a termination notice at least 1 whole period that rent applies before that date. (e.g. for a month-to-month agreement, at least a month before the termination date) (section 175 the Property Law Act 2023 (PLA)).

Under the PLA a 20-business day notice period applies before termination for leases that can be ended “at will” (where there’s no agreement for the tenant to stay longer) (section 174).

Tips to resolve issues

  • Gather information for weighing up the options, e.g., calculate the likely costs, and factor in make good and lessor legal costs (if applicable).
  • Seek legal advice from a lawyer experienced in commercial tenancy law.
  • Negotiate with the other party when seeking to alter the lease agreement.
  • Prepare a proposal with specific details or provide notice as required in the lease if seeking consent to assign or sublet.
  • Ask the other party for a date you might expect a response or a decision.
  • Respond promptly and politely (you are seeking to alter a binding agreement).

Consider alternatives

Alternative options to consider include:

  • Negotiating a mutual surrender.
  • Relocating within the building.
  • Negotiating rent relief or deferring rent.
  • Selling the business.
  • Subleasing or a lease assignment.
  • Voluntary administration or personal insolvency.

Top tips

  • Leases are legally binding and ending the agreement early likely comes with significant costs.
  • If you must end a lease early, negotiating a surrender of lease may save everyone time and money. Put any agreement reached in writing.
  • Put any agreement reached in writing.

Ending for other reasons

If a tenant breaks the lease by ending it early outside of the provisions of the lease (i.e., walks away), this is a breach of the lease and will have legal ramifications. We have outlined these in the ‘Implications’ section of this fact sheet. 

This can occur following a dispute or ongoing issues between the lessor and tenant.

The QSBC has published fact sheets which are aimed to assist parties to navigate issues and avenues for support to avoid issues escalating, including:

A QSBC mediator can mediate a dispute up to $750,000 in value. QCAT considers disputes between related to retail shop leases if the dispute is not resolved after mediation at QSBC. Apply for mediation.  

Courts consider disputes between a tenant and lessor for non-retail shop leases.

Understand your lease

Parties have likely agreed (within a legally binding contract) to a set amount of time for the lease (the lease term). Review the lease agreement to get a clear understanding of any:

  • avenues for amending or ending the lease term early and the costs involved,
  • preconditions that need to be met to terminate, relocate, assign or sublet (e.g., make good or lessor consent),
  • notice requirements to activate such clauses or arrangements.

Consider engaging a professional lease negotiator or solicitor experienced in negotiating the early ending of a lease.

Implications

If a tenant ends the lease early outside of the provisions of the lease, the tenant may be liable for damages incurred by the lessor as a result of the breach. Typically, tenants are obliged to pay any costs incurred by the lessor associated with the tenant ending the lease early. These costs may be significant and could extend to any damages sustained by the lessor including (but not limited to):

  • loss of rental income,
  • loss of opportunity costs (for example, the new tenant’s rental is less than rental under the original broken lease),
  • the costs of removing the fit out and making good the premises.

The Commercial lease bond fact sheet has further information regarding the implications on any guarantees.

More information

Contact the QSBC by submitting an online enquiry or calling 1300 312 344.

Download the Ending a lease early fact sheet. 

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