Business unit query

[Blonde brain]

Hi,
I know this is not directly an Actinic question...

We are finally ready to take on our first business unit and wondered if it was normal for the landlord to ask for us to insure their building?


Thanks in advance for your time.

[george]

Watch for `service charges`.

We play £800+ per year to get our grass cut from the local council.

Well SOMEONE has to pay for the Gulf War innit?

[Darren B]

Not uncommon - we are just battling an imposed insurance that was not agreed at the lease. The building is insured anyway but they slapped this on the monthly rent without asking.

Renting a business unit is alot different to private rentals, as a tennant you have virtually no rights. Make sure a solicitor checks this for you and watch out for rent reviews and make sure there is a fixed time they can back date it. some rent reviews get imposed at the end of your lease and back dated 5 years if it is open

Be careful that is all i will say
D

[george]

Our lease was due for a rent renewal 16 months ago.

The council wanted to hike it up 20%.

The div's next door agreed, us and blonde Bird didn't.

Ain't heard from 'em since.

Could be a massive backdated bill on the cards.

Oh dear.

[Jan]

You will probably find that you are liable for repairs to the building as well (so for example if it needs a new roof, you will be paying for it). I looked into getting a unit a couple of months ago and decided not to because of this (and because it's so much easier to be at home).

Regards,

[TraceyHand]

that was one of our deciding factors on choosing a full managed unit actually. We pay nothing on top of our rent apart from phonecalls and rates. Everything else is included so it helps enormously with small business budgeting..no unexpected bills!

[Darren B]

Our lease was due for a rent renewal 16 months ago.

The council wanted to hike it up 20%.

The div's next door agreed, us and blonde Bird didn't.

Ain't heard from 'em since.

Could be a massive backdated bill on the cards.

Oh dear.

G you might be lucky, it's council, chuck the guy a few quid and hell go away

[george]

On that subject Dazz, a guy I know chucks a snow plough driver a bottle whisky every year and he gets his drive cleared on a daily basis when needed lol.

I asked him if he'd hoover my car instead but he got abusive.

[chris ashdown]

Two options,

Either get into an old building where the landlord is happy to get a customer rent and all other charges are minimal, your insurance is normaly just for contents with landlord includes building insurance in rent

Try a council starter unit they normally supply about 1500 square feet units at reasonable rates and short term leases

Whatever get someone who knows to check out the details before you sign preferably a solicitor, well worth the money and no backdated claims

[completerookie]

federation of small business - see what they have to say.

[jont]

We pay insurance to the landlord as well ... which is only fair .. if the unit is stocking highly nickable items it is going to be a higher risk target for scroats ram raiding the loading bay with a stolen transit van .. or if your 12 year old fax machine shorts out and burns the unit to the ground.

Leaving it to the individual is a risk as insufficient cover may be taken out to cover the needs of the landlord.

[Mark H]

Get a solicitor - if it's a long lease you might also be liable for "dilapidations", which is repairs you have to make or money you have to hand over at the end of the lease to put the property back into the state it was at the beginning of the lease.