Repairing your premises

One of the greatest sources of grief and argument for Landlords and Tenants is the question of repairs.

Landlords naturally want to minimise their responsibility for repairing premises once they have been let; Tenants want to know they can run their business without all the profits being used up on a new roof or dampcourse.

Many business Leases are on a “full repairing” basis. This means that the Tenant is liable not only to keep the property in repair, but to put it in repair if it is not. So, if you are a Tenant taking on premises, it is generally sensible to have professional advice from a surveyor on your potential liability.

If you are a Landlord, you should remember to inspect the property regularly to see if your Tenant is keeping it in good repair, especially if you know the Lease may be passed on soon or is coming to an end (it can be difficult to enforce Tenants’ obligations once they’ve gone!).

Above all, whether you are a Landlord or a Tenant, talk to your solicitor at the outset about the provisions in the Lease, so at least you know where you stand.

For further advice on property and other business issues, contact our commercial team at Hand Morgan & Owen on Stafford 01785 211411 or Rugeley 01889 583871.

Published on web site – January 2007

Disclaimer

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances. (50587)