Who’s Really Responsible for an Emergency Boiler Repair in a Commercial Lease?

When an emergency boiler breakdown occurs in a commercial property, one question quickly arises: who is responsible for the repair? The answer lies in the commercial lease agreement — but the small print can often be confusing.
At Pleasant Plumbers, we support landlords, tenants, facilities managers and property managers across London, ensuring emergency boiler issues are handled fast and legally.

In general, the party responsible for emergency boiler repairs depends on the type of lease in place. Here are the most common arrangements:

• Landlord Responsibility:
  In many standard commercial leases, the landlord retains responsibility for maintaining and repairing structural elements of the building — including the heating system, boilers, and pipework.
  If the boiler forms part of the building’s essential infrastructure, it is usually the landlord’s duty to ensure it’s operational and safe.
• Tenant Responsibility (FRI Leases):
  Full Repairing and Insuring (FRI) leases transfer far more responsibility onto the tenant.
  In these cases, tenants are often responsible for all maintenance and repairs — including emergency boiler repairs — even if they did not install the system themselves.
  It’s critical for tenants to check exactly what ‘fixtures and fittings’ they are responsible for in their lease.

Even if the landlord is responsible for the boiler, emergency repairs needed because of tenant misuse or negligence could become the tenant's financial burden.
For example, if a tenant neglects to report a minor boiler fault that escalates into a major breakdown, they could be found liable.
This is why good communication between landlord, tenant, and facilities manager is essential.

Before disputes arise, both parties should review:

• The maintenance and repair obligations
• The definition of “structural elements”
• Clauses regarding essential services (such as heating and hot water)
• Emergency repair escalation procedures
• Insurance terms related to plant and machinery failures

A clear lease agreement avoids arguments when the heating suddenly fails mid-winter!

Regular maintenance and inspection prevent most costly emergencies.
At Pleasant Plumbers, our expert Gas Safe registered heating engineers in London offer:

• Emergency boiler repairs
• Routine servicing for commercial boilers
• Boiler compliance checks to meet insurance and legal requirements

Whether you’re a landlord seeking protection or a tenant looking to reduce risk, having a trusted commercial plumber in London on call makes all the difference.

If your commercial property in London needs urgent boiler repairs or you want a pre-emptive boiler maintenance plan, call the team at Pleasant Plumbers.

📞 Call or WhatsApp 0800 046 1000

📧 Email [email protected]
🌐 Visit pleasantplumbers.com

Pleasant Plumbers – London’s Trusted Experts for Commercial Heating Solutions.

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