I was wondering if anybody can help me. We are building some serviced offices in a rural loctaion for small businesses to use. We shall have responsibility for the common areas and there will be a cafe on the groundfloor allowing access to the public to use the toilets in the common area. Now what i am not sure about is our responsibilty as landlord in terms of having staff on site at all times, we will have a manager but they have other duties and will be in for maybe a couple of hours a day. Then we have a caretaker at night. I am aware of all the risk assessments we have to do including fire and inspecting maintaining and so on it's just the staffing aspect that i have issues with. Anybody with experience of this? Thanks D.

Thanks for your reply Steve, the main part of my question was whether we need to man the site during all working hours or is a couple of hours presence enough?

Mainly in the event of a fire to take responsibility. My main problem is I cannot base this decision on a fire risk assessment since the centre is 6 months away from completion. I am trying to gather the information for staffing costs to aid the finance dept in working out service charges.

Steve, This is a community project to promote rural businesses, the front access is going to have a camera and audio system to let people in and the tenants will have to meet people to take them up to their office. I was happy with this until i was informed that the front access will be left unlocked to allow access to the cafe and toilets ( this also allows access to the offices). There was a receptionist originally planned but due to the electronics at the front door they decided to do without. This worries me on the security side of things especially in terms of arson. Thanks D.