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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to support commercial tenants with rent arrears, who are otherwise running a viable business, when the moratorium on evictions is lifted as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

As you know the Government extended the commercial tenant protections until the 30 September, and we are currently reviewing what actions need to be taken after this date to ensure that landlords and tenants work together to protect viable businesses in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. We will announce our plans in due course.

On 19 June, we published a code of practice to encourage commercial tenants and landlords to help commercial landlords and tenants map out plans for economic recovery during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Developed in close collaboration between government and leaders from the sector, the code is designed to provide clarity for businesses when discussing rental payments and to encourage best practice so that every part of the chain is supported.