FRI Lease End

[paulS]

Hello, Please can someone give us some advise on internal dilapidations, the lease on our car accessory shop is due to end in 24 months time. So we want to make a start on repairs in order that we do not have a large schedule of dilapidations when the landlords inspect the premises towards the end. How should a retail shop be left? At present there are various stud walls (dry lined). Some of the structural walls of the shop have never been plastered, some have. Do we have to remove all stud walls to leave one large four walled area and then plaster the whole shop, or do we repair the plastered area's and leave the brick work as it has always been. Is it acceptable to dry line the walls instead of plastering.

Many thanks for any helpful advice

[Poppy]

Is it your intention to continue the tenancy?

Did you sign off a schedule of condition at the start of the tenancy? Otherwise how will you compare the initial condition with the current condition? Additionally, you can negotiate retaining certain structures with the landlord.

[paulS]

Hello, no we are not continuing, when we took the lease on, we were fully aware that it was a full repairing lease so we did not have a shcedule of condition. I understand the lease with respect to painting the wood and metal and external decoration, but it is not clear as to how we leave the shop area. Obveousely we will remove all the racks and shelves ect. which will leave walls and celings that require repair and decoration, the question is, to what extent do we go. If a wall appears to have never been plastered, do we need to plaster it or dry line it, or just clean and leave as is. Also one of the celings is timber tongue and groove, as far as I can tell it is original, does that need to be replaced with plaster?
Landlords have changed several times during out tenancy and would not know the original condition.