// BIRA supports UK Government’s decision in extending ban on retail evictions
// Rents for the next quarter are due this Wednesday, but struggling retailers can avoid being evicted until September 30
// Non-essential retailers in England were permitted to reopen from June 15, originally providing just one week of trading before quarterly rent payments were due on June 24.
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has confirmed its support of the Government’s decision to extend the ban on evictions for retailers this summer.
Last Friday the UK Government announced it had extended measures to prevent retailers from being evicted until September 30.
READ MORE: Landlords anticipate low rent payments as retailers ride out Covid-19
That gives struggling retailers three more months grace period, after the protection was originally set for June 30.
Quarterly rents for the next three months to September 29 are due on June 24, although analysts cited by the Financial Times said they expected landlords to receive just 10 per cent of the rent they are owed this Wednesday.
Bira campaigned for an extension for the ban after a survey of its members revealed just 41 per cent had received a positive response when discussing rental payments with landlords during lockdown.
Some 28.7 per cent added that their landlords would offer them no help, with 3.7 per cent also being threatened with legal action.
“Bira welcomes the extension to the moratorium,” chief executive Andrew Goodacre said.
“In a recent members survey, 80 per cent of respondents had tried to negotiate with landlords, and 60 per cent of landlords had refused.
“It was clear that retailers needed more protection and this moratorium goes some way to achieving that.
“We hope now that landlords will work with tenants to find a mutually acceptable solution.”
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