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Leased Property - Asbestos Survey


Question:

We lease our premises from the chemist beneath us and have been told that it is our responsibility to arrange and pay for an asbestos survey which we understand is a new requirement for buildings. Please could you confirm that this is a tenant's obligation and does not fall on the owner.

Answer:

I have consulted with Aitchison Raffety's building surveyors and understand that, since April 2007, it has been the law to have a register to manage asbestos in your building.  This requirement relates to the occupier although, in some multi tenanted buildings, the landlord will arrange for the survey to be undertaken, but of course reclaim the cost by way of service charge.