Have you ever played musical chairs? As the music plays, everyone circles, then it stops, and there is a scramble for a seat. The slowest person is left standing and out of the game.

In commercial leasing, your practice location is your chair. And one day, the music will stop. The only question is: Will you be ready?   

🎯 Why Your Lease Timeline Matters 

It is not just about how many years you plan to keep practising. You also need to think about the next person who will take over your practice.

A buyer typically needs 10 years to recoup their investment through loan financing. That means your lease should cover your remaining years in practice + 10 more. Whether that is a 10-year or 50-year timeline depends on where you are in your career. 

🏢 Your Landlord Has Different Priorities 

Landlords make decisions based on real estate value, not your business needs. Buildings have a lifecycle: they age, need repairs, become ripe for redevelopment, or shift in their “highest and best use.” Any of these factors can motivate a landlord to end your tenancy, sometimes with little notice.

You may not get a heads up when they make the decision. That is why you need to be the one managing the timeline, not waiting to react.

🧱 What Are Your Options?

✅ Buy Your Own Options?
 This can give you more control, but it comes with financial and operational responsibilities. Be sure to weigh the long term trade offs.

‍✅ Negotiate a Long-Term Lease
 In rare cases, you can negotiate a lease with strong renewal options and minimal termination rights. It is not easy, but with the right support, it is possible.

 ✅ Understand Your Lease & Market Conditions
 Knowledge is power. Knowing how your lease is structured and the future plans for your building or neighbourhood allows you to plan accordingly.

⚠️ Watch Out for These Risky Lease Clauses.  

Even a lease that looks like it provides 20 years of term may contain traps that reduce your security:

• ‍Demolition or redevelopment clauses allowing lease termination on short notice
• ‍Restrictions on assigning renewals to a buyer (reducing practice value)
• ‍Relocation clauses moving you, possibly at your own cost
• ‍Unilateral renewal terms that let the landlord introduce new risks
• ‍Landlord’s refusal to renew after the current term ends

Each of these can limit the life span of your lease and devalue your practice.

💡 The Good News?

With the right guidance, you can prepare.

‍We help tenants like you align their leases with their long term goals, minimising risk and positioning your practice for future success.

‍👉 Call RLCI @ 705-743-1220 to schedule a complimentary lease review with our lease consultant today.

Because when the music stops, you want to make sure you are still sitting in the right chair.