General health and safety responsibilities

Tenants who employ staff must ensure their workplace meets a number of basic requirements under health and safety rules. These include:ensuring the temperature is appropriate,providing sufficient space, ventilation and lighting,providing suitable sanitation and washing facilities,providing drinking water,maintaining equipment,keeping the premises clean and free of waste

Tenant businesses must also conduct an assessment of potential hazards in their workplace. See our guide on risk assessment - an overview.However, landlords and managing agents may have a duty to share these responsibilities if they exercise any control over the workplace. This is particularly relevant where several businesses operate in the same building and use common areas.

In serviced offices or business centres, the landlord may also assume the responsibility of conducting a regular risk assessment.Remember, however, that if the landlord does take on such responsibilities, the tenant must check that they are fulfilling them.


The tenant should also co-operate with other tenants in the same building on health and safety issues.Ultimately the division of these health and safety responsibilities will often be the subject of negotiation between landlords and tenants from case to case. It's important to check what's set out in the lease - commercial tenancy agreements often put the onus for safety on the tenant.