Freeholder's responsibility to maintain a commercial building

[itinerants]

Does the owner of a commercial property (such as a shop in the high street) have a legal duty to maintain the outside of the building when the premises are standing empty?

I'm seeing more and more premises being left to decay because tenants can't be found. Surely the owners should be obliged to maintain the outside of the building commensurate with its immediate surroundings - or is that idealistic?

[redcrx]

unless its unsafe and has to be maintained to prevent injury to passers by then it can be left as they want to.

[itinerants]

hanks - that's what I thought. Time for a change in the law I think

[bushbaby_de]

If land is detrimental to the amenity of the local are, the Planning Enforcement Team can serve a s215 notice under the Town and Country Planning Act compelling the owner to return the site to a fit state. Unlikely to be used for a shabby shopfront though.

[itinerants]

thanks again - you're confirming what I thought. There are too many absentee landlords in the country at the moment and we can do nothing about it.