Picture this. You’ve built or bought your dream practice, amassed a loyal patient roster, and are enjoying the fruits of a successful veterinary practice. Having found a space that works for your business, you feel lulled into a sense of security by what you thought was a good and solid veterinary office lease.

Suddenly, without warning, you receive notice from your landlord that the practice you have worked so hard to build is being relocated to another location to make room for the accountant next door who is expanding. You realize that the office lease you thought was designed to protect your interests, is actually riddled with clauses that the landlord can exploit to their advantage — in this case it’s the “relocation clause”. So, what does this mean for you and your practice?

What is the “relocation clause”?

To start with, the relocation clause gives your landlord the right to relocate your veterinary practice to another location in the center or building. Landlords generally exercise this right when they have a tenant interested in expanding into the space or are willing to pay higher rental rates.

A more attractive or lucrative offer may give incentive for a landlord to invoke the relocation clause and request that current tenants vacate their space – with typically 30 days’ notice – and move to a new location. As veterinary practices in particular are expensive to maintain and difficult to relocate, a hidden relocation clause can pose major problems for a tenant.

Is a practice relocation really so bad?

A surprise relocation can be devastating to a practice for multiple reasons. Here’s what you should consider:

Relocation Costs: Many leases do not put the onus on the landlord to cover relocation/moving expenses. This means all costs associated with the move, including demolition of the current space, renovation and build-out costs in the new location, marketing materials and stationary, movers, etc., are your responsibility. A relocation can easily add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexpected costs to a veterinary tenant.

Increase in Rent: If you are moved to a more “favorable location” (ex. from the third floor to the first floor), you may face an increase in rent for the upgraded real estate. If you are moved to a larger location, you may suffer an immediate increase in rent for the additional square footage.

Size: There is no guarantee that the size of the new location will be comparable to the original premises. If smaller, you will have to downsize, reconfigure layout and operatory rooms, and ultimately suffer a loss in production.

Business Downtime: If you are relocated, you could face business “downtime” or “dark-time” while your new practice is being built out. Every day that your practice doors are closed before the new location is functional is a loss of revenue.

Downgrade in Facility: You may be forced to trade in prime real estate for an out-of-the-way corner unit with low visibility and zero foot traffic. The landlord controls the relocation which means that you could face a serious downgrade in the quality of your environment, as well as a lower potential for walk-in business.

Competition: You also may not have control over potential competition in the vicinity of your new unit. Your new space may mean close proximity to competing veterinary clinics or pet retail shops, which could negatively impact your ability to draw in or retain customers.

Accessibility: For both new and existing patients, accessibility is a huge factor. If your new office is not easily accessible, or does not have parking amenities, you risk alienating your client base. When you do open your doors again, you may find that not all of your patients were willing to make the move with you.

The most effective way of avoiding a surprise relocation is by identifying this clause in advance and negotiating it out of your lease before you sign it. If it cannot be removed, often it can be re-drafted in a way that is more favorable to the tenant.

Can’t remove it? Improve it

The best defense is a good offense, and with a planned, strategic approach, often the terms of your veterinary office lease can be renegotiated with your landlord. Consider some of these remedies to altering a relocation clause in your favor:

Landlord is Responsible for All Expenses: Negotiate the terms of the clause so that the landlord becomes responsible for all costs associated with the move, including marketing materials and stationary, moving expenses by trained movers, demolition, renovation, and the build-out of the new space. Put the onus on the landlord to conform the space to your needs, not the other way around.

Rent Abatement: Ensure you will pay the same or comparable rent in the new location.

Comparable Location: Add language that will ensure the new premises will be comparable with the original space in terms of size, configuration, view, and foot traffic.

Sufficient Notice: Demand a sufficient notice period in order to adequately prepare your staff, patient roster, and build-out of the new space to avoid any practice downtime until the new location is ready.

Limit the Number of Relocations: Because landlords can exercise their right to relocate you indefinitely, negotiate the language so you can only be relocated once during your term.

Lease Termination Rights: Finally, try to negotiate your option to terminate the lease should the landlord relocate you to a less-than-adequate location.

Better yet, avoid the problem altogether

Starting or buying a veterinary practice is always exciting, but before you break out the bubbly and sign your name on the dotted line, it’s imperative to conduct a thorough review of the details in your veterinary office lease. A leasing professional can vet out any hard-to-spot risks like the relocation clause in the lease, and devise an appropriate lease negotiation strategy to improve the terms of your lease agreement before it’s too late.

A strong lease can set you up for success by offering security and long-term practice location protection so that you can focus on your patients without having to worry about packing up your business down the line.

Questions about your office lease? Contact Cirrus for a complimentary consultation by calling 1.800.459.3413 or emailing [email protected].

Author
Alain Sabbah, Partner, Cirrus Consulting Group

Veterinary Office Lease Negotiation Experts
Alain Sabbah is a principal at Cirrus Consulting Group, a firm devoted to providing office lease negotiation and review services to doctors. He can be reached at 1.800.459.3413 x 3256. For more information about Cirrus, visit them online: www.cirrusconsultinggroup.com/solutions-for-veterinarians