---
title: "Dilapidations — Class A Atlas glossary"
description: "The tenant's contractual obligation to return the premises to the lease-specified condition."
canonical: https://classa.info/glossary/dilapidations
pageType: glossary
lastUpdated: 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
license: "CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info)."
---

> The tenant's contractual obligation to return the premises to the lease-specified condition.

## TL;DR

- The tenant's contractual obligation to return the premises to the lease-specified condition.
- On lease end, the landlord serves a Schedule of Dilapidations claiming the cost of returning the premises to the standard required by the lease.

# Dilapidations

*Lease economics · UK*

## Short definition

The tenant's contractual obligation to return the premises to the lease-specified condition.

## Full definition

On lease end, the landlord serves a Schedule of Dilapidations claiming the cost of returning the premises to the standard required by the lease. For a high-end [Cat B](/glossary/cat-b) [fit-out](/topics/fit-out-capex)">fit-out in London, plan for £35-£75/sqft. Dilapidations are typically negotiated below the schedule total, but the high end should be provisioned from year one. A [Schedule of Condition](/glossary/schedule-of-condition) on lease commencement is the strongest defence.

## Why this matters for Class A leasing

Dilapidations is part of the lease economics vocabulary that institutional [Class A](/glossary/class-a) occupiers, landlords, and advisers use across UK markets. Understanding it correctly affects how you read lease documents, model occupancy economics, and benchmark deal terms across cities. Class A Atlas tracks the UK definition alongside the global standard so [cross-border](/topics/cross-border-expansion) occupiers can translate quickly.

## See also

- [FRI (Full Repairing and Insuring)](/glossary/fri-lease)
- [Schedule of Condition](/glossary/schedule-of-condition)
- [Reinstatement](/glossary/reinstatement)

## Related guides

- [Decoding a London lease: FRI, dilapidations, break clauses](/guides/uk-lease-glossary-fri-explained)

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Citation: Source: Class A Atlas (https://classa.info/glossary/dilapidations), updated 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z.