Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Virginia

Commercial Lease

I have a one year commercial lease and I have the option of sublet. I no longer use the office, but went out and found a suitable tenant for my space. The leasing agent then had a meeting with this tenant, at which time she showed the tenant another unit and he decided to go with that unit. Do I have a right to terminate this lease since I advertised for this suitable tenant and he was then upsold from underneath me? In other words, did I fulfill my obligations and therefore should be let out of the lease? I can't believe this agent has done this, and since all tenants must go through her, this causes me a hardship trying to rent out my space when she is trying to get them in empty spaces. Someone please help. Thank you.


Asked on 7/12/07, 5:37 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Commercial Lease

Your first step should be to take the matter up with the leasing agent to see whether she'll agree to let you terminate your current lease now in light of her patently underhanded and unfair conduct in coopting your prospective subtenant or, perhaps, agree to let you out of the lease with some modest severance payment on your part.

If the agent turns all that down, then you should carefully review your lease with the aid of an attorney, if necessary, to see if there are any other possible remedies of which you might avail yourself to obtain appropriate redress for this uncongenial commercial leasing situation.

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Answered on 7/12/07, 8:34 pm


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