COVID-19 – legal implications I am aware of some solicitors’ firms who


have admitted to their clients that they do not have the necessary expertise or experience to draft the necessary fire safety clauses. The FSO is not a well known or well understood piece of legislation to most lawyers, hence relevant clauses are usually not present in precedent, and where they are, they are often insufficient. A new balance should be found across


the rental property market. With more people working from home, the decline of the high street and an inevitable recession to come, office space is likely to be released and applications to convert from commercial use to domestic use will be commonplace. Domestic tenants are already protected by Housing Act requirements, and premises with multiple occupancy by the FSO. Now is the time to demand compliance and shared responsibility from landlords as a prerequisite to any commercial rental contract. It is likely that the supply of commercial


premises will now substantially exceed the demand, and landlords will have to compromise if they will wish to ensure reliable rental income. Tenants must grasp the opportunity to level the playing field, and both parties must see that compliance with fire safety legislation will benefit all that use the premises


Warren Spencer is managing director and fire safety solicitor at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors. For more information, view page 3


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