Estate Legal Services

Property Legal services are required for Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the delivery of Estate Strategy, and other property management work, for example lease disputes and acquisitions.

CQC has an estate of seven properties over 11,617 m2 that accommodate 1,415 office-based staff with an annual estate running cost of c.£10m.

Between 2020 and 2024 there are a number of planned relocations, lease expiries and renewals that CQC is required to exercise in line with Government Property Controls unless business cases are approved for exception. The table below highlights CQC properties including lease renewals, expiries and relocations.

The support of expert Property Legal Advisors is required to support CQC Workplace, Facilities and Safety function to ensure that property occupations is statutory and legally compliant.

Professional advice, guidance, negotiation and assistance on property and estates legal issues to include the following services (noting this list is not exhaustive):

 Acquisitions and disposals (including relevant tax advice);  Landlord and tenant matters;  Lease breaks including the preparation and service of break notices and advice in relation to such notices and any pre-conditions attaching to the exercise of the break option;  Termination and surrender of leases including ensuring all obligations are severed on the properties surrendered;  Execute on CQC behalf any formal letter or deed for agreement between CQC and Landlord to sever all connections with the property;  Negotiating the renewal of leases;  To carry out title, planning and land searches of potential new property;  Refurbishments where license to alter may be required;  Deeds of variation of leases;  Wayleave advice, negotiation and execution;  Advising in relation to dilapidations claims;  Rent reviews;  Subletting surplus space including ensuring contracting out procedures are precisely followed so there is no question of a subtenant with security of tenure;  Specialist advice on Crown related issues  Environmental and planning (including planning inquiries);  Ensure client extranet site operational, acting as a repository for documents including leases, subleases, plans, lease summaries, property reports.

The Legal services will help CQC manage our existing and changing estate effectively and in full legal compliance.