Rent for shops

ragsag

Hi everyone,

Can anybody help me with this problem, we have a non rateable unit within a shopping arcade we have been receiving grants from the Government at the lowest level as when they became available at every lockdown. We have been closed and unable to trade for the entire lockdown period further to this we do not , nor were we able to sell via the internet (techno dinosaurs).

We have been charged full rent on this unit from day one with no allowance or discount.

The franchise who runs the arcade has been receiving full grants to a lot larger amount at every stage.

My question is:- Should we have been legally paying full rent whilst we have been shut down because of the Governnment restrictions, to the franchisee whilst they are also claiming all of the grants? It does seem unfair that certain businesses have been double paid and the man at the bottom has just about suvived using their savings.

Any help as to the legal standing of this matter would be gratefully appreciated.

Ragsag

[Deleted User]

Yes, it was legal for you to pay rent. The franchisee could have reduced the cost if they had chosen to, but were not under any obligation to do so.

ragsag

Many thanks for the reply, It looks like there were some real big winners, sitting there doing nothing other than counting the money in (which will be everybodies future tax payments), and us that survived by using our savings, may have been better to shut up shop and be rid, still never mind, a massive learning curve.

Thanks again

Pennywise

Sadly, there are over 3 million self employed who've been excluded from the govt support schemes for various reasons.  None of it was fair and very little made any sense.  As you suggest, lots of winners and lots of losers unfortunately.  

JJC1956

What lowest level grants have you been receiving? (Have you applied for ARG) Why are you Techno Dinosaurs? I am 65 and I sold shed loads of stuff on eBay when my business closed, surely someone can give you a few tips on how to sell stuff, even the Post Office picks up parcels from your home or workplace, oh By the way I am typing this using 1 finger, bit of a Techno Dinosaur myself

Tokmon

ragsag said:

Hi everyone,

Can anybody help me with this problem, we have a non rateable unit within a shopping arcade we have been receiving grants from the Government at the lowest level as when they became available at every lockdown. We have been closed and unable to trade for the entire lockdown period further to this we do not , nor were we able to sell via the internet (techno dinosaurs).

We have been charged full rent on this unit from day one with no allowance or discount.

The franchise who runs the arcade has been receiving full grants to a lot larger amount at every stage.

My question is:- Should we have been legally paying full rent whilst we have been shut down because of the Governnment restrictions, to the franchisee whilst they are also claiming all of the grants? It does seem unfair that certain businesses have been double paid and the man at the bottom has just about suvived using their savings.

Any help as to the legal standing of this matter would be gratefully appreciated.

Ragsag

So during the entire lockdown period where you couldn't trade why weren't you learning how to sell via the internet?. There really is no excuse to just do nothing and claim your unable to because your "techno dinosaurs". Businesses need to keep up with the times and the modern way of doing things and not just rely on government grants to survive. 

mattyprice4004

If you can work this forum, you can work eBay - unless you sell something that is unable to be shipped, I can't see why you couldn't have watched a few 'how to' videos about eBay and made some money that way. 

justwhat

ragsag said:

Many thanks for the reply, It looks like there were some real big winners, sitting there doing nothing other than counting the money in (which will be everybodies future tax payments), and us that survived by using our savings, may have been better to shut up shop and be rid, still never mind, a massive learning curve.

Thanks again

Bit harsh lol  you were giving them money for doing nothing before  covid lol 

Thrugelmir

Have you attempted to renegotiate the rent? An empty unit is of no benefit to the franchisee.