Can we be forced to enter this rental license?

gazfocus

Hi all. I'll try to keep this short.

We have been renting an office in a business centre for some time now by way of a license agreement (as appose to a tenancy agreement). We moved offices to a larger office in the same centre in 2013 and at the time we signed two license agreements. One was from 2013 to 2014 and one was from 2014 to 2015.

This past week, the management team at the centre have really ticked me off (I don't really want to get into the specifics), so much so that we would like to move our business elsewhere. I completely understand that we have to pay rent until the 2013/2014 license agreement ends, but, can we be forced to stay under the 2014/2015 agreement or can we cancel that one before it actually starts?

Thanks

Kayalana99

I doubt it if you've signed a contract no matter when the start date / to date it's still vaild just as much as the 13/14, unless their is something in the small print that allows you to get out of it.. then again I am not a lawyer so...

gazfocus

Kayalana99 wrote: »

I doubt it if you've signed a contract no matter when the start date / to date it's still vaild just as much as the 13/14, unless their is something in the small print that allows you to get out of it.. then again I am not a lawyer so...

I've checked the terms on the contract and it allows the issuer to cancel for non payment, etc, but doesn't have any mention whatsoever of us being able to cancel. It has been suggested that this could be a case of unfair terms but I don't know.

yasmup

gazfocus wrote: »

Hi all. I'll try to keep this short.

We have been renting an office in a business centre for some time now by way of a license agreement (as appose to a tenancy agreement). We moved offices to a larger office in the same centre in 2013 and at the time we signed two license agreements. One was from 2013 to 2014 and one was from 2014 to 2015.

This past week, the management team at the centre have really ticked me off (I don't really want to get into the specifics), so much so that we would like to move our business elsewhere. I completely understand that we have to pay rent until the 2013/2014 license agreement ends, but, can we be forced to stay under the 2014/2015 agreement or can we cancel that one before it actually starts?

Thanks

gazfocus wrote: »

I've checked the terms on the contract and it allows the issuer to cancel for non payment, etc, but doesn't have any mention whatsoever of us being able to cancel. It has been suggested that this could be a case of unfair terms but I don't know.

I suggest you seek independent legal advice. The internet is not the place to seek such advice.

I presume you are aware that there are many things that may be 'unfair' in a consumer contract, which are not in a b2b contract; businesses are expected to understand and/or seek legal advice before they agree to any contract.

I wouldn't have thought any annual contract that does not allow mid-term cancellation (i.e. without paying full annual payment) is unfair.
e.g. I'm sure my (consumer/residential) 12 month advance landline contract with BT does not allow any early cancellation by me.


Edit: Remember also that all contracts can be waived by the mutual agreement of all parties involved

daveyjp

Without seeing the agreement no practical advice can be given. Despite what it says on the piece of paper you probably have a tenancy and not a licence.