'Rent holiday' introduced for Pendle Council commercial property tenants

The council will be placing a temporary stop on all Direct Debits and asking tenants to temporarily cancel Standing Orders relating to any rent due from March 30th.

Coun. Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Council, said: “We’re aware that many businesses may be waiting for grant and support payments from the Government and could be experiencing cash flow problems.

“So we’re offering tenants who rent our commercial properties the option to have a three month payment holiday.

“We will require that the three month suspended rent be paid to us by March 31 2021.”

The council’s commercial properties include shops on Market Street in Colne, offices in Nelson, as well as units in Whitewalls Industrial Estate, Kirby Road Industrial Estate and Clayton Street Industrial Estate.

Anyone who has already paid rent for the next three months or cannot stop a payment will receive a refund.

But tenants in rent arrears, or those who have agreed a repayment plan to clear any arrears, shoudl note that the council expects these payments to continue if possible.

Any business which would like to continue to pay their rent as normal should email email [email protected] as soon as possible.

Coun. Iqbal added: “We appreciate that there is no guarantee that the current crisis will end quickly and we will review the situation again in three months’ time or as and when required."

Pendle Council’s website shows what help is available for businesses affected by coronavirus www.pendle.gov.uk/covidsupport

Further advice to business is available on the Government’s website - www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support