Commercial Letting - Boiler responsibility?

[andie_303]

Hi there

 

I rent a commercial premises and recently my boiler has stopped working so I have no heating and hot water. I reported this to the landlord who sent a handyman to come and look at it - he did and said a registered gas safe plumber would need to come and look at it as he couldn't figure out the problem.

 

He then told me that I would have to contract and pay said plumber as whilst they maintain boilers in the residential properties they have they don't in the commercial.

 

I have checked over my lease and there is nothing in there about me being responsible for the boiler, in fact there is nothing in there regardin me being responsible for any fixtures and fittings except that I must decorate in the last year of my lease unless it has been done in the previous 12 months.

 

I've had a plumber who didn't charge a call out fee come and look at it and he says the fault is actually electrical so I need an electrician but his opinion is that I am not responsible for paying for this as the boiler is not mine - he also said it's the landlords responsibility to ensure the boiler is correctly working for the tennant by getting an annual landlord certificate, which they are supposed to provide to me - they haven't.

 

I've tried googling the subject and all I can seem to find relates to domestic property which says the landlord is responsible.

 

Does anyone have any expererience or insight into the legalities of commercial lettings?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Andie x

[raydetinu]

You may need legal advice; It really depends on what is in your lease about the up keep of the building!

This may help?

https://www.gov.uk/renting-business-property-tenant-responsibilities