Coronavirus and Commercial Rent Payments

Commercial tenants who are unable to pay their rent due to Coronavirus will be protected from eviction.

Most leases contain provisions which permit a landlord to terminate the tenancy if the tenant fails to pay rent for a period after it is due (usually 14 or 21 days).

The emergency Coronavirus Bill, which came into effect on 25 March 2020, contains provisions to ensure that businesses will not be forced out of their premises if they miss a payment in the next three months. Whilst commercial tenants will still be liable for the rent after this period, the new measures are designed to provide a much-needed safeguard for businesses dealing with the impact of Coronavirus.

The Government has said it will continue to monitor the impact of the new measures on commercial landlords’ cash flow.

For expert advice on commercial property disputes, please contact our Commercial Property teams in Halifax (01422 339600) or Huddersfield (01484 483800) or complete our online enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.