In the 2026 commercial property market, the most effective way to avoid a dilapidations dispute is to prevent it before the lease begins. A Photographic Schedule of Condition (SoC) is one of the most important protections a commercial tenant can have. It records the exact condition of the property at the moment of occupation, ensuring tenants are not held liable for pre-existing defects.
Without a professionally prepared Schedule of Condition, tenants risk inheriting responsibility for defects that existed long before the lease commenced.
The Risk Behind “Good and Substantial Repair”
Most commercial leases require the tenant to “keep the property in good and substantial repair.” Legally, this wording can require a tenant to put the property into good repair, not simply maintain it.
If a property is taken without a Schedule of Condition:
- Cracked floors can lead to replacement claims
- Leaking or aged roofs can become tenant liabilities
- Mechanical and electrical defects may trigger costly reinstatement
At lease expiry, the landlord’s surveyor will assess liability, not fairness.
The Stokemont Standard
A Schedule of Condition is only effective if it is robust, detailed, and legally integrated. A Stokemont Schedule of Condition includes:
- High-Resolution Photography documenting structural defects, damp, services, finishes, and external fabric
- Annotated Floor Plans mapping each defect to its precise location
- Lease Integration with the Schedule formally appended to the lease to limit repairing obligations
Our surveyors can work with solicitors to ensure the lease wording reflects and relies upon the documented condition.
Why It Matters at Lease End
When a landlord issues a terminal schedule of dilapidations, a Stokemont Schedule of Condition allows us to:
- Challenge claims for pre-existing defects
- Reduce redecoration and reinstatement costs
- Protect tenants from inflated dilapidations demands
This routinely saves tenants tens of thousands of pounds.
Protect Your Position
Signing a commercial lease without a Photographic Schedule of Condition is equivalent to signing a blank cheque. At Stokemont, we prioritise risk management and will advise when a property’s condition presents unacceptable exposure.
Order a Schedule of Condition from Stokemont. Protect your lease. Protect your capital.
