Can Christies International Real Estate unreasonably withhold approval of a proposed lease?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
(b) Lease. Before you sign a lease, sublet a space, purchase space, or make any binding commitment to do so, you must provide us a copy of the proposed lease, sublease, or purchase agreement, and you must obtain our prior written approval hereof, which we will not unreasonably withhold.
(e) Relocation Review. You must obtain our prior written consent, which will not be unreasonable withheld, if you wish to relocate your Main Office and/or an Additional Office.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Christies International Real Estate's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must secure written consent from Christies International Real Estate for their proposed business site. Franchisees are permitted to operate the business only from an approved location. Failure to secure an approved site can result in the termination of the franchise agreement.
Before signing any lease, sublease, or purchase agreement, franchisees must provide Christies International Real Estate with a copy of the proposed agreement and obtain prior written approval. Importantly, Christies International Real Estate agrees that it will not unreasonably withhold this approval. This clause protects franchisees from arbitrary denials of suitable locations.
Christies International Real Estate also requires franchisees to obtain prior written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, if they wish to relocate their Main Office or any Additional Offices. The new location must comply with all applicable provisions of the Franchise Agreement and with Christies International Real Estate's then-current specifications and standards. This provision ensures that franchisees can relocate if necessary, but also allows Christies International Real Estate to maintain brand standards and operational consistency.