Harla
Research and Sources

Problem slide

The data and methodology behind the three headline figures on the problem slide. Each number is derived from published industry research and standard property cost models.

Claim 1 — Transaction timeline

3–6 mo

The time a lease takes to complete from first offer

What the claim covers

The 3–6 month figure represents the elapsed time from a landlord and occupier reaching initial agreement on terms to legal completion of the lease. It covers the full transaction lifecycle: heads of terms negotiation, solicitor instruction, searches, KYC/AML compliance, conditions satisfaction, and exchange and completion.

Methodology

UK commercial leasing involves six parties — landlord, occupier, two sets of solicitors, an agent, and often a surveyor — none of whom share a single workflow. Each handoff introduces waiting time: landlord solicitors cannot draft until instructed, occupier KYC must clear before exchange, search results hold up title investigation, and conditions must be met before completion can be set. Because these stages run in series, delays compound. The published industry range is 3–6 months, with a midpoint of approximately 4 months (16 weeks) for a straightforward commercial letting.

Supporting data

Claim 2 — Monthly void cost to the landlord

£13k+ /mo

Cost to the landlord every month of void

What the claim covers

The £13k+/mo figure represents the direct cost to a landlord for every month a commercial unit sits vacant during a transaction. It comprises foregone passing rent plus irrecoverable property costs that fall to the landlord during a void: empty rates, insurance, and basic service charge. It is a floor, not a ceiling — it excludes agent retainers, deterioration, and management overhead.

Methodology

The calculation uses a representative mid-market UK commercial unit of approximately 5,000 sq ft let at £32/sq ft/yr — a rate consistent with regional office and retail markets outside prime central London. Monthly void cost is the sum of foregone rent plus a conservative estimate of irrecoverable outgoings.

Input Value
Representative unit size ~5,000 sq ft
Passing rent (mid-market UK commercial) £32/sq ft/yr ≈ £13,333/mo
Irrecoverable outgoings (rates, insurance) ~£400/mo
Total monthly void cost £13,733 ≈ £13k+

Supporting data

Claim 3 — Legal fees per transaction

~£15k

Legal fees per transaction — a barrier to agreement

What the claim covers

The ~£15k figure represents the combined legal costs borne across both sides of a standard commercial lease transaction — landlord solicitor and occupier solicitor fees together. It is presented as a barrier to agreement because high fixed legal costs disproportionately deter smaller deals and shorter leases, where the fee represents a larger share of total contract value.

Methodology

A standard commercial letting instruction to a mid-tier UK law firm typically incurs £6,000–£10,000 per side, with both sides combined running £12,000–£20,000. The ~£15k midpoint reflects a landlord instruction of approximately £8,000 and an occupier instruction of approximately £7,000 — consistent with published SRA transparency data and Law Society fee surveys for straightforward commercial lettings up to 5 years in duration.

Party Typical fee
Landlord solicitor ~£8,000
Occupier solicitor ~£7,000
Combined transaction total ~£15,000

Supporting data

Source index