The purpose of this research is to examine the awareness and understanding of break clause management by small business tenants in the light of the Appeal Court decision in Fitzroy House Epworth Street (No. 1) Ltd and another v. The Financial Times Ltd [2006].
The empirical data were collected using detailed questionnaires distributed to occupational tenants in three sub‐markets across the West Midlands. The questionnaire incorporated Likert‐scale and close‐response questions.
The general conclusions were that the tenants surveyed were dangerously unaware of the barriers that exist in trying to effect break clauses, a position exacerbated by the decision in Fitzroy.
The research points to an increasing need for tenants to be made more aware of the technical and management problems that surround the option to determine clause.
The paper offers an applied examination in an important aspect of contemporary lease management. It provides a platform on which to base further studies in other geographical areas for comparative and aggregate purposes.
