Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2020 to Question 64131 on business premises: landlords and with reference to the 19 June 2020 voluntary code of practice for commercial property relationships, if he will set out the criteria by which he will monitor the effect of the code and decide whether further mandatory provisions are necessary.

The Code of Practice aims to help commercial landlords and tenants to come to balanced agreements regarding the payment of rent at a time when many tenants have been unable to trade as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions. It was developed in partnership with industry bodies representing both landlords and tenants sectors and has been widely welcomed as a means of encouraging a constructive dialogue.

The Government has always monitored the financial health of the commercial property sector, and continues to do so closely. The steering group for the Code of Practice have agreed to survey their members to understand its impact, and we will also engage with other organisations that are supporting the code to do the same. This, and regular discussion with representatives of both landlords, tenants and the wider commercial property industry, will inform any future interventions that might be necessary and appropriate to support this essential element of the nation’s economy.