GovWire

Overview

The Bona Vacantia division (BVD) at the Government Legal Department (GLD) deals with commercial leases of dissolved companies that now belong to the Crown.

BVD will usually disclaim a commercial lease that is referred to them.

BVD will not assign commercial leases.

BVC3 Online Referral Form - Commercial Lease Disclaimer

Please ensure that you read these guidelines fully before completing the mandatory referral form below, which should be sent to us at bvcompanies@governmentlegal.gov.uk together with PDF attachments as stipulated in the attached form.

Refer a commercial lease to the Treasury Solicitor

Before you refer a commercial lease you should:

1. check that BVD is the correct office by reading BVC1 on jurisdiction
2. complete the online referral form and send with the stipulated attachments to bvcompanies@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Switchboard 020 7210 4700

Please use this email address for all enquiries relating to non cash assets of dissolved companies (eg, Land, Shares, intellectual property, chattels, etc).

BVD will not normally be able to progress your case without the requested information.

What happens next

BVD will first check that the lease is bona vacantia to make sure that they can deal with it. They may ask you for more information.

There is no guarantee that BVD will disclaim a commercial lease but usually they will.

If BVD decide to disclaim the lease they will issue a notice of disclaimer and send you a copy.