Commercial Property Section

“ Ruth McCarthy, partner at North West Law Firm Slater Heelis Collier Littler, has been banging the drum for the ‘green lease’ she has pioneered, saying ‘ There is cast-iron evidence from Australia and the US that greener buildings achieve higher rents, have less turnover to occupiers, reduce operating costs and achieve higher returns.

The green lease is a mechanism for controlling behaviour. It needs buy-in across the board. It shouldn’t be draconian, but provide incentives for a tenant and landlord to use it well. Each lease is bespoke, effectively acting as a charter for a building’s use’”.

Insider May 2009