Otteno

Otteno is a commercial property agent who work SOLELY FOR TENANTS so there is never any conflict of interest. The company was founded in Sheffield by Chris Johnson who is a RICS registered Chartered Surveyor with over 20 years experience working in commercial property.

He is also founder of GP Surveyors, the UK’s leading firm of Chartered Surveyors specialising in the care industry. Why work with Otteno?

• No more London premiums! We believe we are one of the most skilled, experienced and professional agencies nationally, with the advantage of being accessible to businesses based in the north of England.

• We’re experts in high specification and specialist properties with unique requirements, e.g. manufacturing properties, as well as offices and retail units.

• We can help SMEs to be successful by saving them money, minimising their liability and increasing their flexibility!

• You can rely on Otteno to get the best deals for you and take on your property worries.

• We’re straight talking and honest with a great understanding of the commercial property market. Otteno guarantees you their full attention and complete dedication to your case

Our services include:• Lease Renewals and Negotiations• Rent Reviews• Business Rate Reductions• Commercial Property Finder Service• Property Condition Surveys• Business Relocation Service

Call us today on:T: 0114 235 3555E: [email protected]

www.otteno.co.ukTwitter: @otteno

Commercial property agents ... for tenants!

“Otteno gave us very valuable and honest advice on our Business Rates. We are now confident that we are not paying over the odds and will certainly be going back to Otteno for our next review.”

Nick BirchWhitespace

Have you ever questioned whether you are paying too much in rent or rates for your commercial premises? In times of austerity, businesses are looking for ways of making important savings in order to stay afloat.

Many categorise their overheads as fixed costs and simply accept their rents and rates figures.

However, a large number of companies nationwide are paying over the odds and could save thousands of pounds by seeking specialist advice.

Most leases include a date for a rent review which landlords generally use as an opportunity to increase your rent.

Otteno use extensive market knowledge, comparable evidence and skilled negotiation to either minimise rent increases during a review or even reduce your rent!

Not only this, Otteno can assess your business rates to establish whether you’re paying over the odds and negotiate a reduction on your behalf with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

Otteno have vast experience in contesting rating assessments by presenting a solid case to the VOA with clear justification and supporting evidence. We can manage the appeal process and complete the negotiations in order to secure a significant business rates reduction for you.

Otteno will manage the whole process for you throughout, leaving you to focus on what’s important – running your business!



“Thank you to Otteno for making our office merger a stress free process. They have saved us thousands of pounds by negotiating our rent with the landlord and successfully secured a reduction in our business rates to boot!”

Jacqui JohnsonGP Surveyors

Save money on rent and rates

Otteno can help you find the best property for your business and your budget. Many businesses lose valuable time and money spending months scouring the commercial rental market for premises that fit their specification, and often end up paying over the odds on a lease with poor terms and absolutely no “get out” clauses should they change their mind!

Otteno can do all the leg work for you in finding a suitable property and ensure that you and your business are getting the best deal.

We have a fantastic relationship with commercial property agents across the UK which allows us to seek out properties and deals which are not readily available online or even directly to commercial tenants.

We will clearly establish your requirements, seek out a selection of premises for you, present our findings and then negotiate optimum terms with the landlord on your behalf.

Rent and business rates are significant overheads that a business has to pay and the cost of moving premises if you get it wrong can be crippling. Therefore it is vital that you get it right from the start!

Successfully negotiating on commercial property deals is a specialist skill and requires a great deal of market knowledge and expertise. Use the experience of Otteno to find the best premises and lease terms for you – allowing you to get on with running your business!



“Otteno’s service was efficient from the outset and their expertise has been invaluable. MX only had a few months in which to find a new factory premises and relocate. Otteno took the stress off our shoulders and did not disappoint. They presented multiple premises options to us, visited the properties with us, negotiated with the landlord on the heads of terms and rent, and carried out a full condition survey of the property. A very happy customer!”

Nick RobinsonMX Group

Find the right commercial property

Do you know everything about the property you are planning on buying or renting? Otteno’s Pre-Acquisition Survey will make sure that there are no nasty surprises waiting for you when you move in.

Our thorough photographic report will ensure that the condition of the property is fully recorded and any defects are noted. This should then be incorporated into your lease and fully reflected by the rent or purchase price.

Tenants taking a lease on commercial property are likely to have a degree of responsibility for repairs and should always make sure they are aware of the extent of this liability.

It is important for tenants to meet their liabilities when leaving a property but without going beyond their legal obligations.

A pre-acquisition survey helps to protect tenants from unexpected costly claims from the landlord when they exit their lease. A small investment in

a thorough survey now can save you thousands at a later date!





Reduce liability with a condition survey

Are you paying too much rent or are there pitfalls in your lease? Is it time for a lease renewal? Lease renewals provide a great opportunity for you to reduce the level of rent you pay and improve the terms of your lease e.g. increased flexibility. We may even be able to negotiate benefits such as rent free periods or lump sum incentives.

However, most leases contain clauses which govern when you can renew your lease. Strict renewal terms, tight notice periods and complicated lease details mean you must be on the ball.

You need to be completely aware of when your break clauses* are so you can exit your lease early if you need to. Dates for submitting a request to exit a lease before you reach the end of the term can be very specific. You could end up paying thousands if you miss the break date!

Some tenants are not even aware of the fact that they can renew their lease, change their terms or

exit a lease early due to the length and complexity of the lease document.

Otteno can evaluate your lease to establish the details of any break clauses, identify any potential issues and identify changes that can be made to ensure that you’re getting the best deal – with your interests protected. We will also work closely with your solicitor to ensure your liabilities are minimised.

*A Break Clause gives the tenant or landlord the right to bring a lease to an end part way through the agreed term.



“Otteno saved us thousands of pounds when our previous landlord tried to implement a large rent increase. The proposed increase was potentially crippling for our business but Otteno’s effective negotiations secured a great result!”

Darren PassBrightstar

Negotiate better lease terms

Moving premises can be stressful, costly and very time consuming! Otteno can take the stress off your shoulders by managing the process for you. Our relocation service is renowned for its efficiency and cost effectiveness, utilising our experienced property relocation team who will ensure your move runs smoothly and without a hitch from preparation and planning through to your move day and beyond.

Our relocation service can include:

• Finding the ideal property for you• Negotiating the best lease terms including

rents and break clauses• Negotiating business rates• Condition survey • Layout planning including drafting plans for

optimum space usage• Creation of a ‘move’ timetable• Office design and fit out• IT and telecoms considerations

• Selection and management of the best removal firm for you

• Plus a range of other services to make your move run smoothly!

We recognise that all businesses have different needs so we can tailor our service to your relocation requirements.

You may only move premises once, make sure you get it right!



Stress-free business relocation



Documents

Otteno