The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 12: Summer 2019 | Page 30

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ADVERTORIAL MINIMISING YOUR RISKS AS A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LANDLORD by Ian Sandham, branch director, Jelf in Bath As a landlord of a commercial property it’s your responsibility to meet certain obligations for your tenants. If you’re not familiar with these, you could expose yourself and your properties to unnecessary risk. some of your landlord liabilities to your tenants in the terms and conditions of their lease. But this isn’t always possible so you might still need to have a plan in place to monitor your properties. Your commercial landlord responsibilities Addressing these challenges with these simple steps can reduce risks and help make sure your properties are legal. Like a residential landlord, you need to ensure your properties are safe and well maintained. But depending on the type of property and lease, you may also be responsible for: • • • • • • • Fire safety Maintenance and repairs Fixtures and fitting Waste management Asbestos monitoring and maintenance Gas and electricity Refrigeration, air conditioning and heating systems If you are, you could be held accountable for lax health and safety and poor building maintenance, however you could transfer Minimising your risk as a landlord Risk assessment – conduct an annual and thorough risk assessment for every property. Even though you might not be directly responsible for fire safety, always include it in your assessments. It should verify that all fire control measures are in good, working condition and who’s responsible for them. Hire professional contractors – make sure contractors provide their own risk assessment and method statement as well as evidence of their insurance before they begin any work. Introduce PAT testing – portable appliance testing (PAT) isn’t a legal requirement for landlords but testing anything you provide can help ensure the safety of your tenants. Visit jelf.com to find out how we can help you manage your liabilities. Correct storage – require that any chemicals your tenants may use for their business are stored in locked, metal cupboards. This is a marketing communication. Jelf Insurance Brokers Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Not all products and services offered are regulated by the FCA. Registered in England and Wales number 0837227. Registered Office: Hillside Court, Bowling Hill, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6JX. FP19.13 Check water systems – hire a specialist contractor annually to conduct a legionella bacteria risk assessment for all of the property’s hot and cold water systems. Make use of FRI or IRI leases – full repair and insurance (FRI) leases can limit your liability in the event of an incident. FRI leases make tenants responsible for the costs of all repairs and insurance policies. In the case of a multi-occupancy building, an Internal repair and Insurance (IRI) lease would be more appropriate. Don’t leave yourself or your properties exposed to unnecessary risks by ignoring your responsibilities. For more info: www.jelf.com [email protected] 01225 444553 Championing Women in Property Ros Trotman is Associate Solicitor and an expert in planning matters at commercial law firm Thrings. Ros has recently been appointed as the new Chairman for Women in Property South West. She has been on the regional committee for four years and is enjoying taking over the reins at the busy branch. With nearly 300 members and hosting over 100 events per year, Ros intends to use the breadth of this network to address diversity and the attraction and retention of female talent. The South West branch of Women in Property covers a large patch which includes Bath, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester, Solent, Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. The main committee is based in Bristol so lots of Bristol and Bath events take place making it easy for Bath business women to attend. The motto for Ros’s year as Chairman is #MakeYourMark. She’s asking all members to make a difference and make their mark on the industry. Her aims for this year include encouraging women to step up to panel debates and public speaking opportunities, promoting the mentoring scheme, championing gender diversity and inclusion and promoting Women in Property as a strong voice on these matters in the media. Ros said, “One key area we’re looking to tackle is 30 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019 unconscious bias, making opportunities for everyone. Involving men in the conversation is key. Gender diversity is good for business, not just fair. “We’re being approached by businesses on how we can help with diversity. Changing a company culture can be a long process but it starts with leaders and then filters down to create an open, diverse and inclusive culture.” Women in Property is also about inspiring the next generation. The group spends its reserves on giving back to its members and offering its support to other women interested in careers in property or the construction industry. They have their own mentoring scheme and a school’s roadshow initiative. The roadshow is designed to showcase the range of opportunities on offer from engineering to surveying and planning. Ros is proud to work for Thrings solicitors, which has one of the largest planning teams in the South West, and for an employer that champions women in business. Ros joined the firm after three years at Wiltshire Council. Since joining Thrings, five years ago, Ros has grown an urban planning practice specialising in residential and commercial development schemes. Ros acts for a number of regional developers across the South West and South East of England. Recently, she has acted for Newland Homes on the development of 79 homes on the former West Wilts offices in Trowbridge. To find out more about Women In Property visit: www.womeninproperty. org.uk A number of events are taking place throughout the summer months with dates in Bath, Bristol and Swindon. Visit the website for details. For membership enquiries email: [email protected] [email protected]