Fire Exit leads into rear stock of shop

[Guest Nick]

Good afternoon,

We are currently in a retail premises, where our rear stock room has a door leading into it from the shop next door which is their fire exit door. Is this legal at all?

The problem I have is that we do not open on Sunday and as such out rear stock room doors are locked shut, which then blocks the escape route for the shop next door.

Any help greatly appreciated, as we are currently being told that we need to keep the rear stockroom empty so that the fire exit can be used!

 

[Tom Sutton]

This arrangement is acceptable, as a last resort, by most enforcing authorities and there should be a legal document, signed by both parties. The other possibility, if you are a tenant, is the landlord has arranged it and it forms part of your tenancy agreement so you need to discuss this with your solicitor and landlord. The other problem is, if the other shop opens on a sunday, the means of escape will not work so you need to discuss this with all interested parties and sort the problem to ensure the means of escape is available at all times the premises are occupied.