Banks financing a borrower operating from leased premises typically ask for a waiver from the borrower’s landlord of certain rights under the borrower’s lease. Landlords typically either refuse to give the waiver, resulting in a reduction of the credit available from the bank, or negotiate the terms of the waiver, driving up legal costs for the borrower, who will usually pay the legal fees for three sets of lawyers – the borrower’s, the bank’s and the landlord’s.
Although very few borrowers do it, the best time for you to deal with this issue is when you sign or renew your lease. When the landlord wants your signature, ask the Landlord to agree to provide a waiver to your bank on reasonable terms whenever you are putting new credit arrangements in place.