Green lease review checklist
Australian commercial green leases include NABERS commitments and sustainability obligations that affect fit-out, outgoings, and make-good. This checklist is for tenant or landlord lawyers reviewing a green lease.
This is a 12-step checklist for reviewing a commercial green lease. It covers NABERS commitments, energy efficiency, data sharing, and sustainability working groups.
The checklist
Identify green lease type
Identify whether the lease is a full green lease, light green, or dark green with schedule obligations.
Review NABERS energy commitment
Check the committed NABERS Energy rating and consequences of failure.
Review NABERS water commitment
Confirm any committed NABERS Water rating and landlord obligations.
Check data sharing clauses
Review landlord and tenant obligations to share energy and water data for NABERS ratings.
Review fit-out guidelines
Check sustainability requirements for tenant fit-out and fit-out approval process.
Check building management committee
Review obligations to participate in a building management or sustainability committee.
Review energy upgrade cost allocation
Check whether landlord energy upgrade costs can be recovered through outgoings.
Review CBD compliance
Confirm compliance with Commercial Building Disclosure for office spaces over 1,000 sqm.
Check waste management obligations
Review tenant obligations for waste segregation and recycling.
Review make-good at expiry
Check whether sustainability improvements must remain or be removed at expiry.
Review renewable energy clauses
Check any clauses covering rooftop solar, PPAs, or GreenPower commitments.
Brief client on obligations
Brief client on ongoing sustainability obligations and cost impact.
When this checklist applies
Use when reviewing a commercial lease with sustainability or NABERS commitments.
Common pitfalls
- NABERS commitment missed when comparing against lease rating
- Data sharing obligations unclear
- Energy upgrade recovery through outgoings overlooked
- CBD compliance required but not addressed
- Make-good obligations not aligned with sustainability improvements
Run this checklist on a real matter
Quillio can review a green lease and flag NABERS and data sharing obligations. See /practice-areas/commercial-lawyers or start a free trial.
General guidance for green lease reviews. Adapt to the specific building and tenant requirements.
Use this checklist on your matter.
Quillio can run this checklist on a specific NSW conveyancing matter — confirm each item, calculate adjustments, and generate the supporting documents. The free trial requires no credit card.
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