When Renting Office Space, What Is the Landlord Responsible for?

9/6/2021 (Permalink)

When you’re renting commercial office space, it’s crucial to have a strong understanding of what your landlord is responsible for. You don’t want to spend money on services that aren’t your responsibility. And you also don’t want to cause further damage to anything that you should not tamper with in the first place. This could be a transgression of your rental agreement and could lead to legal recourse. 

With that said, you should always check your rental agreement or lease contract. Have a copy on hand that you can reference when you’re unsure which responsibilities belong to you and which to your landlord. 

Generally, there are a number of aspects your landlord is responsible for. Structural repairs usually fall on the landlord. It’s the landlord’s responsibility to maintain and repair heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, as well as plumbing and electrical.

If there are any systems or machinery that come with the space, those usually fall under the landlord’s responsibility as well. In addition, your landlord is usually responsible for keeping common areas like stairways and elevators clean and functioning properly.   

If your lease contract does not specifically state these matters, then it’s worth having a discussion about. Otherwise, you could be held liable for building repairs that you’re not insured to cover. 

Whether you are a landlord or tenant in a commercial space, keeping your property clean and safe is important. If you need help cleaning and maintaining your commercial space, don’t hesitate to reach out to SERVPRO. Our trained professionals are there to help your business succeed.