Taking on an older building

[markruss]

Hi,


I want to open an Auction house and have been looking at an old warehouse in our town that was until recently used by an A/C company.

It's large, 4000sq ft and really made up of two open floors with an old open wooden staircase leading from the ground to the first and no other exit from the first floor.

The floor between the two levels consists of wooden joists covered by wooden floorboards with no fireboarding to the ceiling at ground level.

To me it represents a massive risk; would the Landlord have responcibility for making it safe before he let it to me or does all the responcibility fall on my shoulders?


Cheers.

[Editor]

What is an A/C Company? Accountants? Airconditioning? or am I being stupid should I know?

The reason I ask is because a complete change of use will change the risk assessment that the Landlord may have already done. However It is the landlords ultimate responsibility to ensure his tenant complies by virtue of contract .

Who picks up the tab will be a function of the lease conditions, normally structure, building components and basic fire safety arrangements including means of escape for purpose group of building should comply before you lease. Interior refurbishments, alterations and occupancy profile would be deemed tenants responsibility and a risk assessment will show whether further protection is considered appropriate for your business risk.

When you tell me what an A/C company is I will be able to make some assumptions on the risk profile differences.