Dear Members,
ACT COVID ALERT
Commercial Tenancy Relief
The ACT Government is reinstating measures which require commercial landlords to engage in good faith negotiations with local business tenants hardest hit by COVID-19 during the current ACT lockdown.
The new temporary commercial leases declaration will prevent commercial landlords from taking prescribed actions against tenants impacted by COVID-19 such as terminating their lease without first discussing lease arrangements. The declaration will apply from 12 August 2021 when the ACT was placed into lockdown.
Commercial landlords who offer rent relief may be eligible for a commercial rates credit of up to $5,000. A credit is also available for owner-operators who meet the eligibility criteria.
The COVID-19 Local Business Commissioner has been re-instated to connect businesses with information about the declaration, financial assistance, and mental health support. The ACT Government will also fund professional mediation services to facilitate good faith negotiations between landlords and tenants.
In addition to these initiatives, the ACT Government will waive rent payments for the month of September for any business and community sector tenants of government-owned properties that have been affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. Tenants who have experienced a 30 percent reduction in turnover in August will be eligible for a full waiver of their September rent payments.
Yours sincerely,
Brendan Tohill | Chief Executive Officer
NLNA – National Lotteries Newsagents Association
