The Commercial Landlords Accreditation Scheme (CLAS) will oblige member landlords to follow a ten-point code of conduct agreed in March between bodies representing both owners and occupiers.

Heather Hawker is managing director of family-owned property manager Simmons and Hawker, one of the 16 companies which signed up to CLAS pre-launch. She explains: ‘Our occupiers tend not to be property experts. They are entrepreneurs, whose sole focus is getting their business off the ground and making a go of it.

‘The great thing about this scheme is that it encourages the landlord to make sure their prospective occupiers are clued up, and gives them credit for it.’

Landlords bearing the CLAS logo must abide by guidelines which promote, for example, clear and flexible leases, transparent service charges and rent reviews, and a credible complaints procedure. In return, say the organisers, they will gain competitive advantage through being seen as more tenant-friendly.

BPF director of commercial policy Ian Fletcher comments: ‘This may not be high on many companies’ lists of priorities, because they only think about it every ten years when they move offices.

‘However, it is vital to get the lease right from the start. That’s why there is such an emphasis on that in the [CLAS] code of conduct.’

The government-backed scheme has a standards board with members representing both landlords and tenants. Landlords need not be BPF members to become CLAS-accredited, and there is currently no joining fee.

Other landlords which signed up pre-launch are FTSE 100 company Land Securities, Knightsbridge-based Dorrington, and SEGRO, formerly Slough Estates.