Renting a business property: tenant responsibilities
When renting a property for your business, you have some responsibilities by law - but most will depend on what it says in the lease.
Health and safety
You must carry out a in the workplace and take action to remove any hazards.
You鈥檒l normally be responsible for:
- fire safety
- safety of
- gas safety - you must maintain equipment according to the manufacturer鈥檚 instructions, which could mean an annual inspection by a to make sure appliances and pipework are safe
- managing asbestos
You鈥檙e also responsible for providing:
- a reasonable temperature
- enough space, ventilation and lighting
- toilets and washing facilities
- drinking water
- safe equipment
The has more details.
Your landlord is responsible for any aspects of health and safety written in the lease, for example in communal areas. You must take reasonable steps to make sure your landlord fulfils these responsibilities.
If you get into a dispute with your landlord, you need to keep paying rent - otherwise you may be evicted.
If you do not follow health and safety rules
You can be prosecuted if you do not follow health and safety rules.
The main law covering health and safety at work in the UK is the .
The and local councils are responsible for making sure you follow the law.
Read the .
Repairs and maintenance
Your lease should say who is responsible for repairs and maintenance of the property.
Moving out
When you move out, you may have to pay for certain repairs, or return the property to the state it was in when you first rented it. The repairs you鈥檒l need to make are called 鈥榙ilapidations鈥� and should be written in the lease.
Any responsibility that is not mentioned in the lease will usually be yours as the tenant.