Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Crown Estate charges private businesses (a) lease fees and (b) royalty fees on profits.

The Crown Estate as a landowner charges occupiers/tenants, which can be private businesses, rent in accordance with their lease agreements.

In some cases, the rent structure under The Crown Estate’s leases can include a turnover rent element whereby the amount of rent charged is either a percentage of the occupier/tenant’s turnover made at the leased property or the higher of fixed rent and a percentage of the occupier/tenant’s turnover at the leased property. These rent structures are commonly used in the retail market. Royalty fees are used in certain specific situations within a lease structure.