If you are an industrial property investor your focus is likely to be one of capital gain and rental improvement when it comes to your property asset. To achieve that focus all the normal rules and choices should apply such as:
- Quality location
- Well maintained property
- Good tenant
- Market rental
Given these basic facts, there are a few other things that you can do and merge into your property performance plan. Most property investors want to hold an asset for a period of years as part of a greater portfolio strategy. That’s how the other factors can also ‘kick in’ and provide growth strategies to the investor.
Here are some other ideas that can help in any industrial property investment:
Tenant Selection
Not all tenants are equal. The corporate profile of the tenant and the business history that they bring to the property can very well help the asset and the financial performance over time. Financiers like to see a tenant in occupancy of good standing and reputation. An established and successful industrial business is more than likely to be able to pay fair and reasonable market rents.
Lease Term
A long lease term will bring stability to tenant occupancy and make financial decisions a lot easier. A long lease term is better than a short lease term and an option. Options are usually at the discretion and selection of the tenant and on that basis the landlord has little control.
Lease Document
If you own your asset for investment purposes, make sure that you have a high quality lease in place that supports tenant occupation and property use. The lease should be designed with the investment targets of the landlord in mind. The lease can support rental choices and types, property maintenance obligations, and outgoings recovery.
Rent Review Structure
The rent review structure for the lease should be designed to help the landlord improve the property net income whilst retaining tenant occupation. That can be a fine balance when times a slow or difficult for local businesses in the economy.
Tenant Covenants
These are the special terms and conditions that apply to tenant occupation; they are the things that the tenant must do to remain in occupancy. Consider factors of property improvement, maintenance, and rental increases.
Make Good Requirements
At the end of a lease there will be improvements to be made, repairs to be undertaken, and tenant fit out factors to be remedied. Many property solicitors have little knowledge of the clients property to be leased, and on that basis are likely to create a generic lease clause relating to ‘make good’. The make good of any property at end of lease can be a very expensive process; make sure that you have a lease that controls the process well and removes any risk from the landlord.
Property Maintenance
How will the property be maintained? Who will pay for the work? Simple questions like these should be merged into the lease structure. In many cases the property maintenance requirements can be the responsibility of the tenant. It is then a matter of how and when that will be enforced. Design your lease to suit your investment targets and tenant use.
Bank Guarantee
In many cases you will find that the bond or bank guarantee is of primary use in times of lease default. The amount of money secured in that way should be sufficient to protect and reimburse the landlord for costs and losses if they have to find another tenant. In most cases the bond or bank guarantee will be an amount equivalent to at least 3 or 6 months’ rent, taxes, and outgoings recovery.
Outgoings Recovery
With industrial properties in Brisbane today, it is normal for outgoings recovery to be a tenant responsibility. The mechanism for that recovery will be in the lease. The categories for outgoings will be important as they will support the recovery process from the tenant.
You can add to this list of strategies for your industrial property by considering the location and the tenant type. Use an experienced property solicitor to help you with lease documentation. Do not use a generic lease.



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