Simon Austen

Simon Austen

Head of City Professional











  • Qualifications:

  • BSc (Hons) MRICS

  • Career:

  • 2005 Partner, Knight Frank
    2003 Associate, Knight Frank
    2002 Partner, Kinney Green
    2000 Associate, Kinney Green
    1996 Graduate Surveyor, Gerald Eve

  • Major Clients:

  • Peabody, Legal & General,
    Rotch, CIT, Royal & Sun Alliance, Exemplar, Land Securities

Simon originally joined the profession in 1996 and trained and gained experience in rating and valuation work in London and the South East dealing with a broad range of property types including retail, industrial, educational, religious, leisure and office properties. Since 1998, Simon has concentrated on Central London offices with an initial bias towards the City of London, specialising primarily in rent reviews and lease renewals for landlords and tenants but also maintaining an ongoing involvement in rating, valuation and dilapidations instructions. From this work, Simon has gained significant exposure to expert witness work in arbitrations, independent expert determinations and tribunal and court hearings.

In 2002, Simon became responsible for landlord and tenant work in Midtown/Holborn before joining Knight Frank and moving back to concentrate on the City in 2003 and is now responsible for all Knight Frank’s Professional work in the City and Docklands, advising landlords and tenants of office and retail accommodation on rent reviews, lease renewals, dilapidations and lease re-gear matters.

  • Recent transaction

  •  

  • Land Securities

  • Negotiations with tenants to clear a major site in the City for development.

  • Peabody/Greycoat

  • Advising on rent reviews and lease renewals on the Cutlers Gardens Estate, EC2 comprising some 600,000 sq ft (55,750 sq m) in nine major buildings.

  • Dawnay Day

  • Securing nil increase for tenant via Independent Expert determination in respect of 55,000 ft2 (5,106m2) office building on Queen Street, EC4.

  • Legal & General

  • Headlease re-gear negotiations on 50,000 ft2 (4,645m2) at Swan House, 33 Queen Street, EC4 for head lessee.

  • Rotch

  • Advising and negotiating retail rent reviews on London Wall/Copthall Avenue, EC2 for landlord.

  • Royal & Sun Alliance

  • Surrender negotiations on 40,000 sq ft office building in Lime Street, EC3 and 60,000 sq ft office building in King William Street, EC4.
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