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Crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s – the legalities of business relocation

Moving a business is never easy (even if it’s only across town). As well as the logistics and the To Do lists, you also have a few legal considerations to pay attention to. Here’s our no-nonsense run through of what you should be thinking about (as early as possible!).

Telling your staff

Moving business premise can be stressful for your hard-working employees, so it’s advisable that you let your workforce know about your plans as early on as possible. 

If the move is a significant one (or if the move means that some positions will no longer exist) you may need to provide an offer of redundancy. How much money is offered will rely on multiple factors, including how long your employee has been with you.

Warning: The deadline for notifying the Redundant Protective System (RPS) will depend on how many redundancies there may be. Be sure to get legal advice, as you can be fined up to £5,000 if you get this wrong.

Tackling a fire assessment

Before a single employee sets foot into your new property you’ll need to undertake a full and thorough fire risk assessment (this must include checking all the alarms are in good working order). 

During the settle in, you’ll also need to retrain your teams in the fire procedure (it’s a good idea to run through a practice drill after you’ve provided the new procedural information). Here’s a handy short government guide to making your premise safe from fire.

Lockdowns for D1 properties

D1 premises (which includes schools and nurseries) should review their lockdown process. To remind you, threats that could warrant a lockdown include…

  • A reported incident / civil disturbance in the local community (with the potential to pose a risk to staff and pupils in the school)
  • An intruder on the school site (with the potential to pose a risk to staff and pupils)
  • A warning being received regarding a risk locally, of air pollution (smoke plume, gas cloud etc.)
  • A major fire in the vicinity of the school
  • The close proximity of a dangerous dog roaming loose

Boxes. Boxes EVERYWHERE.

Take the time to think about the changing health and safety standards during a move. One of the most often overlooked hazards in this respect are boxes (which can quickly become a slip and trip hazard if not managed correctly).

Taking your employee documents with you

Don’t even think about having a tech clear out during your move. Following the introduction of GDPR in 2018, it’s vital that you know what personal data is stored where (of both your clients’ and your employees’).

You’ll also need to think about how you can ensure every last filing system makes it to the other side (and that they can’t be intercepted along the way).

Insurance – essential or just extra piece of mind?

When relocating your business there may be items that are damaged during the move. Likewise, should something go wrong and you need to down tools, you could take a big hit to your profits. Insurance can protect against these events, however there is plenty to weigh up when deciding whether or not insurance is required. Read our guide to work out whether you need it: Moving Offices – Is Extra Insurance Worth the Money?

Further reading for a stress-free move day…

Dealing with the complicated, drawn-out legal stuff is never any fun. But once it’s sorted, we’ll be ready to help you move, with York’s most trusted removals service.

07931 849 112 | 01904 375 995 | Get your removals quote online | admin@vanmanyork.co.uk.

business relocation