When letting a commercial property, your responsibilities differ from those when renting out a residential property. Below are some of the different key features you should be aware of when renting out a commercial property to make sure you’re completely in control.
Health and Safety
You must carry out a health and safety risk assessment in the workplace and take action to remove any hazards. There are a number of different responsibilities you or the tenant may have. To confirm this, be sure to check your contract thoroughly.
Maintenance and Repair
Any fault with the property itself is the landlord’s responsibility. If there are issues, such as with structural integrity, it will be you who needs to fix it as the owner of the commercial property.
Contact A Surveyor
Before letting out your property, bring in a surveyor. Here at Roger Hannah & Co, we provide comprehensive property expertise from an independent team of specialists. We are able to provide advice on a range of property matters, assisting clients in maximising their property interests and investments. We have a dedicated Lease Advisory team that has specialist skills and is experienced in dealing with all commercial landlord and tenant matters. We can help with rent reviews, lease renewals and assignments just to name a few. If you are just in need of general advice on all lease-related matters, we’re here to help. We will be more than happy to meet you for a free consultation.
Gas and Electric
In terms of gas, you must maintain equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions, which means that an annual inspection by a registered gas safety engineer would be a good idea to make sure everything is working safely. Electricity is a necessary part of everyday life but can be extremely dangerous if not carefully controlled. All electrical appliances must be tested for safety purposes; without this, an appliance should not be used within the property.
Asbestos
It is likely that, as the landlord, you will hold responsibility for asbestos management. Be sure to check your contract or lease to confirm this. If you are concerned that there may be asbestos in the property, bring in an externally accredited surveyor to carry out a survey, have the material analysed, and keep a record of this. Share the information with anyone likely to come into contact with the building and have anything containing asbestos sealed or removed. If you don’t have a plan and put it into action, you could face a fine of up to £20,000 or 12 months in prison.
Fixtures and Fittings
If you have installed fixtures and fittings on commercial property, it is vital that they are safe to use. If a tenant installs any fixtures and fittings themselves, then it will usually be their responsibility to maintain those. It’s best to clarify exactly what you have responsibility for with the tenant so you are both aware.
Fire Safety
You may be responsible for providing fire safety equipment to your tenants, such as extinguishers, fire blankets, etc. This must be declared in the lease. Although features such as evacuation procedures will be the responsibility of your tenant, in any risk assessment you complete, fire safety must be covered.
Overall, if you are unsure of any of your responsibilities, check the contract in detail or contact us for a general lease consultancy.