Complying with regulations
Your legal obligations.
Businesses are under a legal duty to make it possible for disabled people to use their premises. That may mean they have to remove awkward features of their property or add new facilities. For example, they may have to provide wider doorways, access ramps, entry switches, even Braille signs. What has to be done is a complicated technical issue and it differs from property to property according to what is reasonable. But if you break the rules you may be guilty of unlawful discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and find yourself being taken to court.
Protect yourself with a proper audit.
The answer is to have a Disability Discrimination Audit carried out. This is a report by a specially qualified consultant, which will advise you what you need to do to ensure that your premises comply with the Act.
Make sure the premises comply
A building must comply with planning permission and building regulations for any works carried out in the past. Your particular business use may require that premises comply with other specific regulations. A survey will confirm that all necessary regulations have been complied with.
Protect yourself
If you are buying or renting commercial premises, you need a building survey. You need to know what works you will have to carry out. If you are buying a property, the fact that the roof needs immediate replacement affects the price you will pay.
Only a professional survey gives you protection
Don’t rely on a friend or a builder. You can’t sue them. You need a professionally qualified surveyor who will give you a proper report you can rely on.
Get good advice
Save a small fortune
If you are taking a lease of premises, the cost of a survey now may save you a small fortune at the end of the lease. The landlord is probably asking you to sign up to a commitment in the lease to return the premises at the end of the term in a ‘good and substantial condition’. That might even involve you in carrying out works to improve the premises. If the building survey reveals serious defects exist, then you could negotiate that you do not have to return the premises in any better condition than revealed in your survey.
Specialist checks
A building survey may recommend that you need additional specialist checks. It is becoming increasingly important to check for the existence of asbestos. There are other specialist checks which you may need to carry out – e.g. drainage, damp and wood infestations, and electrical wiring.