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Dilapidation provisions are the liabilities to put back a property at the end of the lease into the same condition it was when you commenced the lease.

Therefore, any change in the condition of a property during the lease my creates a liability. This is one area that companies often fail to account for correctly.

If it is probable that you will need to pay dilapidation and you can reliably estimate the cost – you should provide.

If it is probable that you will need to pay dilapidation but you cannot reliably estimate the cost – you should not provide, but you should disclose.

If it is possible that you would need to pay dilapidation and the likelihood of this is not remote - you should not provide, but you should disclose.

If it is possible that you would need to pay dilapidation and the likelihood of this is remote - you should do nothing.


The most common failings are:

  • Getting the above wrong; or

  • Calculating the dilapidation on a straight line basis; or

  • Not considering a break clause.

Calculating dilapidation provision:

The easiest way of explaining the calculation needed is by providing an example:

A lease is taken on in 2020 on a 10 year lease. The property requires £125k to install some fixtures and fittings. The probability is that there will be £75k dilapidation liability to pay in 10 years’ time.

The double entry initially is: DR Fixed Assets £125,000CR Creditors £125,000 DR Fixed Asset £46,043CR Provision £46,043 Being the net present value of £75k assuming a rate of interest of 5%.

Future Value

Annual Interest Rate

Number of Years

Present Value

75000

0.05

10

=+C2/(1+C3)^C4

Future Value

Annual Interest Rate

Number of Years

Present Value

£75000

5%

10

£46,043

After one year the double entry is: DR Depreciation expense £17,104CR Accumulated depreciation £17,104DR Interest (P&L) £2,302CR Provision £2,302

Being the net present value of the effective interest (£75,000-£46,044=£28,957)

WACC

Total Interest

Years

Discount Factor

Present Value

0.05

28957

1

=+(1+$C1)^C3

=+C4/M4*C2

2

=+ (1+$C1)^D3

=+$C$2/D4

3

=+(1+$C1)^E3

=+$C$2/E4

4

=+(1+$C1)^F3

=+$C$2/F4

5

=+(1+$C1)^G3

=+$C$2/G4

6

=+(1+$C1)^H3

=+$C$2/H4

7

=+(1+$C1)^I3

=+$C$2/I4

8

=+(1+$C1)^J3

=+$C$2/J4

9

=+(1+$C1)^K3

=+$C$2/K4

10

=+(1+$C1)^L3

=+$C$2/L4

Total Discount Factor

Total Present Value

=SUM(C4:L4)

=SUM(C5:L5)

WACC

Total Interest

Years

Discount Factor

Present Value

0.05

28957

1

1.05

£2,302

2

1.10

£26,265

3

1.16

£25,014

4

1.22

£23,823

5

1.28

£22,689

6

1.34

£21,608

7

1.41

£20,579

8

1.48

£19,599

9

1.55

£18,666

10

1.63

£17,777

Total Discount Factor

Total Present Value

13.21

£198,322

Issues that require further consideration:

  • Lease that has a break clause

  • Agreement to pay the landlord a fixed sum

  • Agreement to waive the dilapidations costs since the tenant extends the lease

  • Auditors would require the necessary evidence and workings to be able to become comfortable that the treatment has been performed correctly.

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