31Payment of rent when landlord's fit out not completed

31 Payment of rent when landlord's fit out not completed (1) This section applies to a retail premises lease if— (a) the liability of the tenant to pay rent under the lease starts when the tenant enters into possession of the retail premises (whether or not the tenant is required to enter into possession by a specified date); and (b) the landlord has obligations under the lease concerning the fit out of the premises (that is, the landlord is required to provide some or all of the fit out before the tenant enters into possession of the premises). (2) The retail premises lease is taken to provide that— (a) the tenant is not liable to pay rent, or any other amount payable under the lease by the tenant (such as an amount payable for outgoings), in respect of any period before the landlord has substantially complied with the landlord's obligations concerning the fit out of the premises; and (b) except on reasonable grounds of safety, the landlord is not entitled to deny the tenant possession of the premises merely because the landlord has not complied with those obligations.