Our premises licence services are suitable for: Individual commercial landlords Property investment companies Managing agents Asset managers Pub companies Hotel owners Developers Receivers and insolvency practitioners Property solicitors Lenders and other interested parties Our consultants have experience supporting licensing matters involving pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, music venues, theatres, event spaces and mixed-use developments.

Premises Licence Services for Landlords

If a commercial property is used as a pub, bar, restaurant, hotel, nightclub, entertainment venue or other hospitality business, a premises licence can be central to how the property is used. If the licence is reviewed, lapses or no longer reflects the use of the property, it may become more difficult to reopen, relet or market the premises to another operator.

Complete Licensing provides premises licence services for landlords, property owners and asset managers across England and Wales. We help you understand the licensing position of your property, identify potential risks and put appropriate protection in place.

We’re able to offer support and advice if you’re acquiring licensed premises, granting a new lease, changing tenants or responding to an urgent problem.

Contact Complete Licensing or call 0207 222 2345 to discuss your needs.

Premises licence support for landlords

Our landlord licensing services relate to commercial premises operating under the Licensing Act 2003.

We can help if:

You are buying a commercial property with an existing premises licence
You are granting a lease to a pub, restaurant, bar or other licensed operator
You need to establish who currently holds the premises licence
You are deciding whether the landlord or tenant should hold the licence
An existing tenant is leaving or has stopped trading
A new tenant needs to begin operating
You are concerned that a tenant may surrender the licence
The current licence needs to be transferred or varied
The tenant or premises licence holder is facing insolvency
The licence is subject to a review or enforcement action
You need continued oversight of the licensing position

Contacting us as early as possible allows us to review your current arrangements and coordinate applications around lease dates, tenant changes and planned opening dates.

Why should landlords protect a premises licence?

A premises licence authorises licensable activities such as the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment and the provision of late-night refreshment at a particular location. Having the correct licence in place for the specific use of the property can make it easier for an operator to begin trading without having to apply for a new premises licence.

However, being the landlord does not automatically mean that you control the premises licence. The licence may be held by the tenant, operating company or another party. This can create a risk to landlords if the licence holder:

Leaves the premises
Surrenders the licence
Becomes insolvent
Fails to pay the annual licence fee
Breaches licence conditions
Applies to vary the licence
Faces enforcement action or a premises licence review

The right approach will depend on your property, existing licence, operating structure, lease and local licensing environment. We assess these factors and help landlords put an appropriate licensing strategy in place.

Our premises licence services for landlords

Review of current premises licence

When purchasing, leasing or reletting a commercial property, it’s important to understand what the current licence permits and who controls it. Complete Licensing can review the current licence and its conditions so you can identify any issues before they delay a property transaction, lease completion or proposed opening.

Advice on who should hold the premises licence

Depending on the circumstances and requirements of the Licensing Act 2003, the landlord, tenant or operating company may hold the premises licence.

The most appropriate arrangement for your property may depend on:

Who will carry on the licensable business
The landlord’s required level of protection
The length and terms of the lease
The tenant’s proposed operating model
Whether several operators may use the property
The risk of tenant default or insolvency
The licensing authority’s approach
How future tenant changes will be managed

We consider the licensing implications and can work alongside your solicitor and other legal advisers when the licence needs to be addressed within the wider lease or transaction.

New premises licence applications

If a property does not already have a suitable licence, we can help you manage a new premises licence application. As part of the application we will support you with reviewing the proposed use of the property, preparing the application, consulting relevant authorities and preparing for a licensing hearing if required.

If you are refurbishing, redeveloping or marketing premises for hospitality use, seeking early licensing advice is important to ensure the premises can operate under these uses.

Shadow premises licence applications

A shadow premises licence is a second premises licence that can be obtained for the same property. This is often used by landlords who are looking for additional protection in the event that the tenant’s licence is later surrendered or lapses.

This is a full premises licence in its own right and requires a separate application to the licensing authority. A shadow licence can provide a useful fallback but it is not automatically suitable for every property. Its effectiveness may depend on:

The identity and eligibility of the applicant
The activities and hours applied for
The conditions attached to the licence
The relationship between the existing and proposed licences
The licensing authority’s policy
The management of future variations
The annual fee and ongoing administration
The landlord’s longer-term plans for the property

We can assess whether a shadow premises licence may be appropriate, prepare the application and coordinate the process with the landlord’s legal and property advisers.

Premises licence variations

Following a refurbishment, redevelopment or change in the intended use of a property, the existing licence may no longer be suitable. You may require a variation to change the licensed area, change licensed hours or change the operation of the premises.

Our experts will advise on whether a premises licence variation is appropriate or whether a new application would be more suitable.

Tenant departure and licence surrender

If a licensed tenant leaves, the licensing position of the property should be checked before it is marketed or handed to a new operator. If the tenant leaving holds the premises licence, they may be able to surrender it. The commercial lease may contain obligations relating to the licence but contractual protections and the statutory licensing process are separate matters.

We can work with your solicitor to establish who holds the licence, arrange a transfer where required, prepare for an incoming tenant and minimise avoidable delays before reopening.

Ideally, licensing arrangements should be considered before the outgoing tenant ceases trading or becomes uncooperative.

Licensing reviews and enforcement

If a premises is subject to concerns around crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance or the protection of children from harm, the premises licence could be reviewed. Even if the tenant operates the premises, a review can affect the landlord’s property and its future use. Outcomes of a review can include new conditions, reduced hours, suspension or revocation of the licence.

Our experts can help landlords understand the implications of a licence review, coordinate with you and your legal team and prepare appropriate licensing evidence. Find out more about our premises licence review services.

Protecting a premises licence during insolvency

If a premises licence holder becomes insolvent, the licence can be affected immediately and short statutory deadlines may apply.

In the event of a tenant becoming insolvent, landlords and operators should seek urgent advice rather than assuming the licence will remain available for a purchaser or replacement tenant.

Read more about our specialist licensing preservation in insolvency service.

How our landlord licensing service works

1. We review your property and current licence

As a first step, we will establish your current licensing position and identify any obvious risks or missing information. All you need to do is send us the property address, current premises licence and a brief explanation of the landlord and tenant arrangements.

2. We explain your options

Once we have a full understanding of the current situation, our team will advise you on the best course of action, whether that’s a transfer, variation, new application, shadow licence or another licensing process.

Where the matter also concerns lease provisions or property law, we can work alongside your solicitor.

3. We prepare and manage the application

If you require an application for a new premises licence or a licence variation, we will prepare the documents, liaise with the licensing authority and responsible authorities and manage the application throughout the consultation period.

4. We support your long-term licensing position

Once the immediate licensing matter has been resolved, we can help monitor the licence, implement new conditions and support the landlord or operator with ongoing licensing compliance.

Who can we help?

Our premises licence services are suitable for:

Individual commercial landlords
Property investment companies
Managing agents
Asset managers
Pub companies
Hotel owners
Developers
Receivers and insolvency practitioners
Property solicitors
Lenders and other interested parties

Our consultants have experience supporting licensing matters involving pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, music venues, theatres, event spaces and mixed-use developments.

Why choose Complete Licensing?

It’s easy for licensing arrangements to be overlooked during a commercial property or tenant change. Problems can often arise when a tenant leaves, a licence is surrendered or a new operator is ready to open, all of which can affect the future operation of the property.

At Complete Licensing, we understand how licences affect landlords, operators and commercial property transactions and we assign the right experts to your case to identify potential licensing risks, manage required applications and respond quickly when an existing licence is at risk.

Meet the Complete Licensing team.

Frequently asked questions about landlord premises licensing

Can a landlord hold a premises licence?

A landlord may be able to hold a premises licence but property ownership alone does not automatically determine whether a landlord should hold the licence. Eligibility under the Licensing Act 2003, the intended operating structure of the property and who will carry out the licensable business must all be considered.

We can assess the proposed arrangement and work alongside your legal advisers to identify an appropriate licensing structure for your property.

Should the landlord or tenant hold the premises licence?

Different arrangements suit different properties. A tenant or operating company may hold the licence because it runs the business. On the other hand, a landlord may want greater protection or a separate licensing arrangement. The right answer will depend on the operating model, lease, eligibility requirements, future tenants and commercial risk.

Can there be more than one premises licence for the same property?

It can be possible for more than one premises licence to cover the same property. Every application is considered in its own right and the licences may have different holders, hours or conditions. The interaction between the licences should be carefully considered before an application is made.

Does the premises licence transfer automatically with the property’s lease?

No. Granting, assigning or ending a commercial lease does not automatically transfer the premises licence. If the licence needs to move to the landlord, incoming tenant or another operating company, the relevant premises licence transfer must be completed.

What happens to the licence if a tenant leaves?

This all depends on who holds the licence and what happens when the tenancy ends. If the departing tenant is the licence holder, the landlord should establish whether it will be transferred, retained or surrendered. Leaving this process until after the tenant has departed may make consent and communication more difficult.

What happens if the tenant becomes insolvent?

Insolvency can cause a premises licence to lapse and there may be limited time to preserve it. The correct action will depend on the type of insolvency and the parties involved.

Please contact us immediately if insolvency has occurred or is expected.

Premises Licence Services for Commercial Landlords