Clear explanations of 500+ contract clauses, written in plain English for businesses and individuals.
This clause gives one party (usually the buyer) the right to inspect or test the other party's work, products, or services to check they meet agreed standards. Quality audits are low-risk because they're just about checking things—they don't penalize
Read More →A sinking fund is money you set aside regularly (usually monthly or quarterly) to pay for a large future expense—like building repairs or equipment replacement. Instead of paying one huge bill later, you pay smaller amounts now into a dedicated accou
Read More →A service charge is money you pay (usually monthly or quarterly) to cover shared building costs like cleaning, maintenance, security, and repairs to common areas. A "cap" is a legal limit on how much this charge can increase each year—for example, a
Read More →This clause commits both the landlord and tenant to environmental responsibilities, such as recycling, reducing water use, using energy-efficient appliances, or maintaining green spaces. These clauses are increasingly common in modern leases because
Read More →This clause requires the building to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which is an official rating (A-G, with A being most efficient) showing how much energy the building uses for heating, cooling, and lighting. In the UK and EU, this cer
Read More →This clause requires the building owner to maintain a record of where asbestos materials are located in the building (if any exist). Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that was widely used in insulation and building materials until the 1980s-90s; when d
Read More →This clause requires someone (usually the landlord or building owner) to conduct an official inspection to identify fire hazards in the building and create a written report. In the UK, the Fire Safety Order 2005 legally requires this for most buildin
Read More →This clause says you (the tenant or buyer) must follow all laws and regulations that apply to your use of the property, including health and safety rules, environmental laws, and building codes. The landlord is saying: "I'm not responsible if you bre
Read More →This clause limits what you can use the property for based on local planning laws. For example, if the property is zoned for retail only, you cannot operate a factory there, even if you own or lease it. Planning restrictions come from local governmen
Read More →This clause requires you to get written permission from your landlord before you can sublet (lease part or all of your space to someone else). The landlord can usually refuse consent if they have "reasonable grounds"—for example, if the subtenant's b
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