Commercial property transactions strong in England

Evidence suggests that the rate of commercial property transactions across England and Wales remains strong, despite significant market uncertainty. What are the reasons for the upturn in the number of sales and purchases?

What is a commercial property transaction?

A commercial property transaction is the sale or purchase of a property which has a primarily commercial function, as opposed to residential property. There are many different types of commercial property, each of which has their own challenges for buyers and sellers. Examples of the different types of commercial property Samuels Solicitors LLP has bought and sold for clients in recent years are as follows:

• holiday and caravan parks;
• pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses;
• shops and other retail units;
• offices;
• hotels and other tourist accommodation; 
• nursing homes; and 
• industrial buildings and warehousing.

Specialist legal advice is required when selling or purchasing a commercial property, as ownership structures can be far more complex than residential property and often bespoke legal contracts are required. There are also significant factors relating to taxation which should be considered. 

Why are commercial property transactions on the rise?

The number of commercial property transactions in 2026 has risen, following several years where the number of transactions remained fairly stable after the pandemic, but what are the reasons?

• The growth in 2026 should be measured against a small decline in the number of transactions in 2025 and a number of years where transactions did not increase significantly, meaning that the growth could well be described as organic and cyclical in nature;
• Lower interest rates and stability in the rate of inflation at the start of the year is also thought to have contributed to more market confidence;
• Commercial rents for a wide range of properties has increased, meaning buyers may be more willing to invest in this sector, seeking higher yields than the low interest rates of recent years have been able to deliver in other investment vehicles;
• There is a remaining strong demand for warehouse and industrial space, likely driven by the continued growth of e-commerce and the use of industrial buildings for specialisms such as data centres; and
• Given the lack of growth in recent years, there is a glut of commercial property available on the market, making it of interest investors who may not have traditionally considered the sector.

All of these factors contributed to a strong start to the year for commercial property transactions. However, this may well be tempered by the recent conflict in the Middle East, the full impact of which remains to be seen. 

How to find a commercial property lawyer

If you need to find an expert commercial property lawyer, if you want to find out about the cost of a commercial property solicitor, or if you have a particular property you want to buy or sell and you need a solicitor for a restaurant lease, a lawyer to review a commercial lease and negotiate terms for you, or a solicitor to help you with the purchase of a warehouse, we can help. 

At Samuels Solicitors LLP we have expert lawyers working in our offices in Devon and Newcastle, which span the whole of England. Our commercial property solicitors are experts in their field and will handle your transaction quickly and cost effectively. If you need a fixed fee commercial property solicitor to avoid any unexpected costs, we will be able to discuss and negotiate this with you at the outset.

Contact us today to speak to one of our commercial property expert solicitors.