Repairs and alterations

Your rights and responsibilities for repairing and altering rented business premises are largely dependent on what your tenancy agreement says. This section will help you to understand your and your landlord’s obligations for any fit-out of your premises when you first move in, and any repairs, maintenance and alternations that might be needed during your tenancy. It also includes guidance on when you can get your landlord to pay for any alterations your business needs.

Repairs and alterations before the tenancy starts

  1. 1.Can I get a rent-free period to make alterations to my business premises before I move in?
  2. 2.Do I need permission from my landlord to make alterations before I move in?
  3. 3.Can I get my landlord to make changes or repairs to my business premises before I move in?
  4. 4.Can I force my landlord to make alterations if the premises are not fit for my business?

Alterations during the tenancy

  1. 5.Can I make alterations to my business premises?
  2. 6.Can my landlord refuse permission for alterations to my business premises?
  3. 7.How do I ask my landlord for permission to make alterations?
  4. 8.Can my landlord attach conditions to their permission for my alterations?
  5. 9.Can my landlord choose to do my requested alterations themselves?
  6. 10.What happens if my landlord does not reply to my request to make alterations?
  7. 11.Can my landlord increase my rent if my alterations increase the value of the premises?
  8. 12.Can I ever make alterations to my business premises if they are forbidden by my tenancy agreement?
  9. 13.Can my landlord charge me in return for agreeing to allow alterations?
  10. 14.Can my landlord make me to undo any alterations I have made before I leave?
  11. 15.Will I need planning permission to make alterations to my business premises?
  12. 16.In summary, what happens if I make alterations without planning permission?

Making alterations for disabled people

  1. 17.Do I have rights if my tenancy agreement does not permit alterations for disabled people?
  2. 18.Can I avoid making reasonable adjustments for disabled people if my landlord says no?
  3. 19.How can I force my landlord to agree to alterations for disabled people?
  4. 20.What happens if my landlord agrees to my request to make reasonable adjustments?
  5. 21.What if my landlord does not reply to my request to make reasonable adjustments?
  6. 22.What if my landlord needs the building owner's consent to my request to make reasonable adjustments?
  7. 23.What if my landlord refuses consent to my request to make reasonable adjustments?
  8. 24.Do I have to adapt my premises to accommodate disabled people?
  9. 25.What alterations do I have to make for disabled members of the public?
  10. 26.How do I decide if an adjustment for a disabled member of the public is reasonable?
  11. 27.What alterations do I have to make to accommodate disabled staff?
  12. 28.How do I decide if an adjustment for a disabled staff member is reasonable?

Repairing the premises during the tenancy

  1. 29.Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance of my business premises?
  2. 30.What is an internal repairing lease or IRL?
  3. 31.What is a full repairing and insuring lease or FRI lease?
  4. 32.Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance if my tenancy agreement does not say?
  5. 33.What standard of repair do I need to maintain in my business premises?
  6. 34.Do I have to repair damage promptly?
  7. 35.What can my landlord do if I do not keep my premises in repair?
  8. 36.Can I make my landlord repair my business premises?
  9. 37.What can I do if my landlord does not do repairs when they are supposed to?
  10. 38.Can I withhold rent if my landlord refuses to do repairs?
  11. 39.Can I claim compensation for any losses caused by my landlord's failure to repair?
  12. 40.Can I end the tenancy and leave if my landlord refuses to do repairs?
  13. 41.Do I have to pay for the repairs which my landlord makes to my business premises?

Claiming compensation for alterations or improvements

  1. 42.Can I get my landlord to pay for alterations?
  2. 43.Can I claim compensation for adding valuable fixtures to the premises?
  3. 44.How do I claim compensation from my landlord for my alterations?
  4. 45.What should my notice of proposed improvements say?
  5. 46.When must I write to my landlord to ask for compensation for improvements I have made?
  6. 47.What should my claim for compensation for improvements say?
  7. 48.How much money can I get from my landlord for improvements I have made?
  8. 49.Can I make my landlord pay for alterations which I have already made?