What are a landlord’s responsibilities?
Most commercial leases are ‘fully repairing and insuring’ (FRI). This means that the Tenant is responsible for most of the maintenance and repairs costs, plus the cost of buildings insurance.
However, a landlord still has responsibilities under the law and in the commercial lease agreement, they have signed with the Tenant.
By law, a landlord is responsible for:
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, a commercial landlord is partially responsible for maintaining common areas of a property and the exterior of the property, including wiring and other health and safety aspects. The exception is when a tenant is the sole occupant of a property.
When a landlord does not meet their responsibilities under the law or as specified in the commercial lease agreement, a tenant can take legal action against them. A tenant may also be able to claim compensation for any financial losses and personal injury.
What happens if a commercial landlord sells their property?
When a landlord sells a commercial property, the new owner will inherit the tenant and the existing lease agreement. The new owner of the property will become the landlord.