Opening a Retail Business in the UK: What you Need to Know | Page 12

Opening a Retail Business in the UK: What you Need to Know

Water and sewerage
It will be your responsibility to pay for any water that your business uses, as well as for the drainage
of water and liquid waste from the premises. Typically, businesses are charged for this in one of two
ways:


Paying for use, plus a set charge (usually in the case of a meter)



A set charge, usually based on the property value

The water industry is regulated by Ofcom in England and Wales, by the Water Commission in
Scotland and by the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland.
Air conditioning
If you have an air conditioning system in place, then it’s your legal obligation to have it inspected
every five years by a qualified energy assessor to ensure that it remains energy efficient. The
inspection can only be carried out by an accredited energy assessor. The report will analyse the
current efficiency of the equipment, and will offer suggestions for improving its efficiency. It will also
detail how best to reduce your usage, and will detail any faults and suggested repairs.
The fine for not having the inspection carried out every five years is £300.

Commercial Property – Industrial Units, Office Space to Rent

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