Commercial wear & tear

Joanne asks:
(updated on Thursday, November 30th 2017)

I am a landlord of a commercial property with a standard deed of lease sixth edition. I am never sure who is responsible for what with regards to maintenance and our tenant tends to ask us to do everything - including changing a light bulb. They are currently asking for a tap washer and noisy pipe to be fixed - both of which I believe will have been caused by wear and tear and therefore be their responsibility. Is this the right view?

Our Experts Answer:

Usually maintenance of the building resulting from wear and tear is the responsibility of the property owner. Light bulbs, though, are normally viewed as consumables that should be a tenant’s cost. However, I suggest you look at the specific provisions of your lease document to see how it addresses wear and tear.

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