I-T Farm Support

We have just been appointed by the technology support company I-T Farm Ltd to help it find new offices in South Manchester.

I-T Farm has outgrown its existing offices at Manchester Science Park and with no suitable options available on the park it now has no choice but to look further afield.

TAG was recommended to I-T Farm by Godel Technologies which was previously based at the science park. TAG helped Godel acquire a new head office at City Tower in Manchester City Centre two years ago.

It seems that Manchester Science Park is becoming a victim of its own success with very little expansion space now left for growing businesses to expand into. The dilemma facing many of these companies including I-T Farm is whether to move closer into the city centre or venture further out of town where amenities and public transport provision are less generous.

It is a difficult decision particularly if staff want to avoid the increasingly busy commute into the city centre. Mind you, I am not sure many business parks are regarded as ‘cool’ places to work by those working in the TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications) sector. Until then, Manchester city centre and in particular the Northern Quarter will probably continue to attract the majority of these footloose technology companies. Only time will tell whether I-T Farm joins them.    

Time for an holistic approach

Holistic Estate Planning Solutions Ltd has instructed us to help them find new office premises in South Manchester.

Holistic is a specialist will-writing and estate planning adviser which was founded in 2001. It is a full member of the Institute of Professional Will Writers (IPW) and is currently based at Alderley House in Wilmslow.

The company’s landlord, Royal London Mutual Insurance Society, wants to take back the building for its own exclusive occupation and has therefore served notice on its tenants. Holistic’s lease will therefore terminate later this year.

The business is having to relocate its operation during an important growth phase so there is a lot to think about particularly in relation to future headcount.

We will be accompanying the senior management team on inspections of suitable properties in South Manchester in the coming weeks having been instructed to implement a formal property search and acquisition process. We will also be undertaking the space planning of the new offices.

HRC Law appoints TAG

Tenant Advisory Group has been appointed by HRC Law LLP to identify and acquire a new head office for the business in Manchester city centre.

HRC Law LLP are a rapidly expanding independent law firm based in Manchester City Centre.

HRC currently occupies part of Brooke House, Fountain Street, Manchester. It is giving serious consideration to relocation prior to its lease expiry and the senior management team has inspected several suitable properties in Manchester City Centre in recent weeks.

As Martyn Markland of TAG explains, “the existing space is reaching its capacity and with further growth planned HRC are examining all their options.”

£190,000 saved on dilapidations

Tenant Advisory Group (‘TAG’) was appointed by Environmental Resources Management Ltd (‘ERM’) in 2014 to negotiate a £190,000 damages claim made by its former landlord in relation to a lease it held on premises in Edinburgh.

TAG defended the claim proving successfully that there was no basis for such a claim because the landlord was planning a major refurbishment of the premises and that as a result, ERM’s failure to re-instate the premises would not cause the landlord to suffer any financial loss.

This case clearly demonstrates the value of professional advice in the field of dilapidations and re-instatement. Far too often, tenants accept their landlord’s claims for such damages and attempt to negotiate a settlement without taking professional advice. In this situation, the client took advice and was able to avoid any liability whatsoever.

As Martyn Markland of TAG explains, “it is vital for tenants to assess their liabilities before lease expiry. The advice they receive might come as a pleasant surprise as the basis of a landlord’s claim is far more fragile than tenants probably imagine.”