Agreement for lease
An "Agreement for Lease" (AFL) in the UK is a legally binding contract between a prospective landlord and tenant that sets out the terms and conditions under which a lease will be granted. This agreement is typically used when certain conditions need to be met before the actual lease can commence. These conditions often include the completion of construction or refurbishment works, obtaining necessary planning permissions, or fulfilling other specified obligations. The AFL provides a framework for both parties to plan and prepare for the future lease, allowing time to meet conditions that are essential for the tenancy.
The agreement specifies conditions that must be satisfied before the lease is granted. Common conditions include:
- Completion of building or refurbishment works to a specified standard.
- Obtaining planning permission or other regulatory approvals.
- The tenant securing financing or providing a deposit.
The AFL outlines the key terms of the lease that will be granted, including:
- The lease term (duration).
- Rent amount and payment schedule.
- Description of the premises to be leased.
- Rights and obligations of both parties.
Both the landlord and the tenant have specific obligations under the AFL. For example:
- The landlord may be required to complete certain works or obtain approvals.
- The tenant may be required to pay a deposit or carry out fit-out works upon gaining access to the premises.
Once the specified conditions are met, the lease is formally granted, and the tenant takes possession of the premises. The AFL often includes a specified date or a mechanism for determining when the lease will commence. Once signed, the AFL is a legally binding document, meaning that both parties are obligated to fulfill their commitments under the agreement. Failure to do so can result in legal consequences.
The AFL typically includes provisions for what happens if either party fails to meet their obligations. This can include:
- Termination of the agreement.
- Payment of damages.
- Specific performance (a court order requiring a party to fulfill their obligations).
An Agreement for Lease is an essential tool in UK real estate transactions, providing a clear and enforceable roadmap for both landlords and tenants to follow before entering into a formal lease arrangement.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Assured shorthold tenancy.
- Code of practice for letting and managing agents.
- Commonhold.
- Difference between assured shorthold tenancy and assured tenancy.
- Dilapidations.
- Freehold.
- Green lease.
- Ground rent.
- How to evict a tenant.
- Landlord.
- Landlord and Tenant Act.
- Lease.
- Lease Negotiations - Tenants Checklist.
- Leasehold covenants.
- Leasehold enfranchisement.
- Leasing a property - what you need to know.
- Licence for Alterations for Apartment.
- Scott schedule.
- Security of tenure for commercial leases.
- Subletting.
- Tenant.
Featured articles and news
Tackle the decline in Welsh electrical apprenticeships
ECA calls on political parties 100 days to the Senedd elections.
Resident engagement as the key to successful retrofits
Retrofit is about people, not just buildings, from early starts to beyond handover.
What they are, how they work and why they are popular in many countries.
Plastic, recycling and its symbol
Student competition winning, M.C.Esher inspired Möbius strip design symbolising continuity within a finite entity.
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.
The Warm Homes Plan details released
What's new and what is not, with industry reactions.
Could AI and VR cause an increase the value of heritage?
The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018
ECA welcomes IET and BSI content sign off.
How neural technologies could transform the design future
Enhancing legacy parametric engines, offering novel ways to explore solutions and generate geometry.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government and other bodies.
From QS to further education teacher
Applying real world skills with the next generation.
A guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes.
Data infrastructure for next-generation materials science
Research Data Express to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.
Wired for the Future with ECA; powering skills and progress
ECA South Wales Business Day 2025, a day to remember.
AI for the conservation professional
A level of sophistication previously reserved for science fiction.






















