Logo Skip to content
Home
The council and democracy
Democracy portal

Decision details

Commercial Property Rent

  • Find out more about this issue

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

That delegated authority is granted to the Finance Director, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, to make rent deferral, rent reduction, rent abatement or lease re-gear decisions on commercial tenancies to effect the most appropriate commercial property solution on a case-by-case basis.

Decision:

Cabinet RESOLVED:

 

(1)      To formalise the application process for full or partial rent deferrals or rent negotiation through an online form.  The online form would ensure that tenants provide the necessary evidence to support their application and allow the Council to verify the claim and assess the liquidity and solvency of the business i.e. identify those tenants who were experiencing cash flow issues now but who would likely be in a better position to meet their rental costs in the future.  The government was clear that where businesses could pay their rent, they should do so.

 

(2)     That a Panel consisting of officers from Property, Finance and Debt Collection departments be authorised to review each case and make recommendations to the Finance Director and the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment in accordance with the broad criteria below:

 

•        Temporary illiquidity of the tenant is a direct consequence of the pandemic;

•        The business is considered to be a micro business or SME;

•        The premises has been closed due to the pandemic, it cannot trade or has suffered a significant reduction in trade;

•        Evidence of illiquidity in the form of cash flow statement, statement of means or financial accounts;

•        Where the tenant is letting multiple premises from various landlords, the Council acts consistently with those other landlords;

•        There is a good prospect of the tenant’s business recovering.

 

(3)     That delegated authority be granted to the Finance Director, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, to make full or partial rent deferral and rent negotiation decisions (in exceptional cases this may include lease re-gearing) on commercial tenancies to effect the most appropriate commercial property solution on a case-by-case basis.

 

(4)     Where businesses have arrears and do not engage in the process for applications for rent deferrals, or do not conform to the agreement made as part of that process, that the Council use the full legal powers to recover rent now and in the future.  This would include:

 

i.        Use commercial rent arrears recovery, where allowed by statute (for example, where Brent is owed 276 days or more of unpaid rent);

ii.       Adding interest where tenants have not agreed rent deferrals with the Council (this is generally a standard lease provision);

iii.      Threat of forfeiture of the lease once the moratorium on forfeiture of commercial leases for non-payment of rent is lifted.

 

(5)     To agree that the above measures provide an incentive for tenants to either pay their rent or formally agree an arrangement with the Council.

Reason Key: Affects more than 2 wards;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

Contact: Denish Patel, Property and Projects Email: denish.patel@brent.gov.uk Tel: 020 8937 2529.

Report author: Denish Patel

Publication date: 07/12/2020

Date of decision: 07/12/2020

Decided at meeting: 07/12/2020 - Cabinet

Effective from: 15/12/2020

Accompanying Documents:

  • 17. Commercial Property Rent pdf icon PDF 107 KB
  • 17a. Appendix 1 - Code of Practice for commercial property pdf icon PDF 269 KB
  • Restricted enclosure  View reasons restricted

 

Navigation

  • Decision - Commercial Property Rent
  • What's new
  • Committees
  • Constitution
  • Calendar
  • Meetings
  • Committee decisions
  • Officer Decisions
  • Forward plans
  • Your Councillors
  • Your MPs
  • Election Results
  • Outside bodies
  • Search documents
  • Subscribe to updates
Brent homepage
Your council
Complaints and feedback Contact the council Jobs at the council News and Press office Sign up to our weekly email news updates
My Account
Manage your Council Tax, housing benefits, council rent account and more through My Account.
Sign in or register
Follow us on social
Brent Council's Facebook page Brent's Instagram page Brent Council's LinkedIn site Brent council's Twitter feed Brent council's YouTube channel
Accessibility statement Cookies policy Privacy policy Terms of use
© Copyright Brent Council 2022

Title