In the UK and Ireland, there’s a long-standing tradition around something called quarter days. These are four specific dates spaced out across the year when things like hiring staff, starting school terms, and paying rent typically happened. They’re tied to old religious festivals and line up pretty closely with the solstices and equinoxes.
When it comes to commercial property leases in England and Wales, rent is often paid quarterly in advance—which can catch people off guard, especially if they’re used to monthly in arrears like in most residential agreements.
This setup can cause problems for businesses because the rent payments are larger, and since they’re due upfront every 3 months, tenants need to have a decent amount of cashflow available. Landlords, on the other hand, get some peace of mind knowing the rent’s covered for the next quarter. It’s the same total rent over the year, just split differently which can definitely impact cash flow for tenants.
It’s also worth pointing out that other charges, like service fees or building insurance, are often billed the same way. Some leases even ask for the full annual insurance premium upfront, which can really add up if you’re not expecting it.
So, what are the actual quarter days?
There are four main ones in the UK:
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 25 March – Lady Day
- 24 June – Midsummer Day
- 29 September – Michaelmas
If you’re trying to remember them, here’s a a little trick we tell our clients… start with Christmas Day (25 Dec), then for the others, just take the number of letters in the month and add it to 20. So:
- March (5 letters) – 20 + 5 = 25 March
- June (4 letters) – 20 + 4 = 24 June
- September (9 letters) – 20 + 9 = 29 September
A bit odd, but surprisingly easy to remember once you know it.
What happens if rent isn’t paid?
Late rent happens. If you’re a landlord dealing with missed payments—especially around quarter days—you might be able to use a process called CRAR (Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery). It’s part of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, and you can use it once the tenant is at least seven days behind.
Whether your lease uses traditional quarter days or other dates, it’s important to understand your options. If you’re unsure, it’s always a good idea to speak with someone who knows how to navigate commercial rent recovery.