Opening a Retail Business in the UK: What you Need to Know | Page 8
Opening a Retail Business in the UK: What you Need to Know
Tenant Obligation and Business Responsibilities
A number of the obligations we mentioned earlier fall under health and
safety, with it being your responsibility to carry out an assessment in
order to remove any potential hazards. These potential pitfalls include:
Fire safety
The employer is usually known as the ‘responsible’ person in terms of fire safety. The responsible
person must:
Regularly carry out new fire risk assessments for the property.
Notify staff or their representatives if any risks are identified.
Put in place and then maintain the appropriate fire safety measures.
Have plans in place in case of an emergency.
Provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training.
In some cases (within large buildings) each company using the space will normally have at least
one ‘responsible person’. On those occasions, these people will be held responsible for coordinating fire safety plans. When there are any common or shared areas, the responsible person
will then be the freeholder, the landlord or the managing agent.
Punishment for not following fire safety regulations can be a hefty fine or worse still, prison. Local
fire and rescue authorities will inspect the premises, and can issue fire safety notices informing you
about any necessary changes that need to be made.
Gas
Any gas equipment on site must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s issued instructions.
In many cases, it may be a legal requirement to have a yearly inspection carried out by a registered
gas safety engineer. The consequences of not doing so can be lethal, so it’s recommended to have
the checks done even if it isn’t a legal requirement.
Commercial Property – Industrial Units, Office Space to Rent
8