Savoy Stewart are D1/F1 property specialists dealing with Medical and Education use properties throughout Greater London. Darren Best discusses the requirements a property needs to be suitable for these uses:

In 2020 the Government re-categorised the majority of use classes scrapping Class D1 and splitting properties that fell into this category into a new Class E and F1 uses.

Medical and Nurseries were moved from D1 into the new Class E (which includes shops restaurants and offices) meaning that in the majority of cases, any commercial property with a Class E use could be used as a nursery or for medical use without the need for a planning application. At the same time, all other Education and Religious uses were separated into the new Class F1.

Whilst owners of Class E properties initially thought that this was a good way letting vacant properties what has become clear is that very few landlords understand the requirements that are necessary for the property to be able to be used appropriately.

We see many properties marketed as being suitable for medical use where it is clear that no one has considered what a medical occupier might require.

Any registered medical occupier needs to ensure that their property meets the requirements laid down by the Care Quality Commission. These properties will be inspected, and many are deemed to be unsuitable by which time it is often too late for the tenant to be able to get out of their lease.

Landlords need to consider things such as the power requirements of a building, what floor loadings a building has, whether there is the capacity for 3 phase power and how a disabled patient might be able to access or escape from a building in the case of an emergency.

Clinics will often have additional requirements for boosted air conditioning and fresh air or additional ventilation in settings where medical procedures take place and most importantly patient flow needs to be considered, especially where the clinic needs to interact with other non-medical occupiers.

If there are X-rays and MRI machines consideration needs to be given to floor loadings and lead lined rooms and also to how to go about getting medical gasses into a building.

Floor coverings also need to be considered, and it is important to ensure that they are appropriate for the use in question.

What do Education providers want from their properties?

Education occupiers are much heavier property users than a standard office occupier.

Landlords with office buildings that they cannot let seem to think that the golden ticket is to get a change of use to F1 to make their building lettable.

What is rarely understood is the requirement that colleges and universities have in order for a property to be suitable for education use.

Whilst most buildings are developed for an occupancy of 1 person per 8-10 sq m, for fire escape and ventilation purposes, most education users have far greater occupational densities.

Things that are rarely considered are boosted fresh air and ventilation, the additional requirements for toilet facilities (when everyone goes at the same time during breaks) and most importantly the knock on effect of having an education occupier in a building when it comes to occupancy levels and dealing with fire escapes and evacuation from a multi tenanted building.

Savoy Stewart have many years’ experience dealing with these types of properties and are well placed to advise on any situations where you might be stuck with an office space that you cannot let.

If you are considering letting to an alternative use please contact us for advice and an assessment of whether your property is suitable.

You can see all of the commercial property listed by Savoy Stewart on NovaLoca here.

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