Identify the unit, equipment and shared areas involved
A tenant’s appliances, the fixed installation inside the unit and shared building equipment can have different responsible contacts. Start by identifying which part needs attention and who controls access, use and maintenance.
An outlet inside your unit and a shared electrical cupboard may involve different contacts. Confirm who can authorise the work, arrange access and coordinate any effect on other occupiers before booking.
Check the lease and electrical safety responsibilities
Check the lease and electrical safety responsibilities
Read the relevant lease and management arrangements with the landlord, agent or adviser. Ask who commissions inspections, approves alterations, retains records and pays for agreed work. Record what has been confirmed for the particular task.
Workplace electrical duties can follow control of systems, equipment and activities. A statement about who pays does not by itself establish that every safety responsibility has moved to one party. Use appropriate property or legal advice where the allocation is unclear.
Confirm who can approve work and arrange access
Confirm who can approve work and arrange access
Nominate who can approve the quotation and additional findings, arrange keys and communicate with other occupiers. If a shutdown affects common systems or another unit, that coordination needs to happen before the work is booked.
Share previous reports and relevant installation records where you are entitled to do so. Explain access restrictions and boundaries of responsibility. An inspection or repair quote needs to define what is included rather than assume every part of the building is available.
Keep reports, certificates and outstanding actions
Keep reports, certificates and outstanding actions
Agree who receives the report, relevant certificates and any outstanding-action information. A tenant change, refurbishment or managing-agent change is easier to manage when the electrical history and responsible contacts remain clear.
For a current fault or potentially unsafe condition, raise the concern promptly with the responsible parties and arrange appropriate help. Do not let a payment or lease discussion become a reason to keep using visibly damaged electrical equipment.
What to share with your enquiry
- Premises use and affected area
- Landlord or managing-agent contact
- Responsibilities already confirmed
- Person authorised to approve work
- Previous reports, access and shutdown constraints
Questions answered
Is the landlord always responsible for every electrical item?
No. Responsibilities can involve several parties and depend on the agreement, control and applicable duties.
Ask Max about thisWho pays for electrical repairs in a leased shop or office?
Check the lease and management arrangements with the landlord or agent, and use an appropriate adviser where the wording is unclear. Payment responsibilities and electrical safety duties are separate questions. Confirm who can approve the particular work before arranging it.
Ask Max about thisWho arranges access to shared electrical cupboards?
Identify the landlord, managing agent or site contact who controls the area and can provide permission and keys. If testing or work may interrupt another unit or a common system, agree that coordination before the contractor attends.
Ask Max about thisWhat electrical paperwork should I ask for before taking a commercial unit?
Request the available condition reports, installation records and evidence of action on previous findings, with the stated extent of each document. Clarify who controls and maintains shared equipment and who can arrange access. Discuss missing information with the landlord, agent and appropriate adviser before relying on a document title alone.
Ask Max about thisCan a tenant arrange electrical alterations without telling the landlord?
Check the lease, consent requirements and management arrangements before committing to the work. The contractor needs a clear authorised scope and any access or shutdown permissions. Electrical safety requirements still apply; agreement about who pays should not be treated as a complete answer about responsibilities.
Ask Max about thisSources and further reading
Read the original guidance relevant to this question. Building Regulations and rental-law references here relate to England.