Rent Recovery London Bailiffs
C
ommercial Forfeiture
In circumstances where commercial tenants are in breach of covenant and the lease allows, and where rent arrears cannot be recovered, the landlord can exercise the common law remedy of forfeiture. An enforcement team can take possession of the premises peacefully and secure them without recourse to the courts. Possession needs to be done peacefully without opposition or resistance from the tenant so it is usually carried out at night or early in the morning. The landlord cannot seize the tenant’s stock and commercial forfeiture cannot be used when the landlord has already attempted to collect any arrears using CRAR. An enforcement agent would attend the premises with a locksmith (outside normal trading times) to gain access and change the locks. A full inventory will be taken of the goods inside the property as well as taking photographic evidence. They will also note the meter readings if visible. The enforcement team will post notices confirming that the premises have been repossessed by the landlord. Upon completion, the enforcement agent will deliver the keys locally or send them to the instructed address by registered post.