Treasury secretary Stephen Barclay has told MPs in the Commons that the ban on evictions will be extended by nine months
‘Existing measures will remain in place, including extending the current moratorium to protect tenants from eviction to 25 March 2022,’ Barclay confirmed.
'Many businesses have accrued debts to landlords and because of threat to jobs we introduced rent protection. Landlords and tenants should resolve those debts in an orderly fashion.'
Barclay confirmed that the extension of the rent moratorium would remain in place until the government can legislate for the framework for a binding arbitration scheme.
He also confirmed plans to introduce a binding arbitration scheme to resolve disputes between landlords and commercial tenants. It will take some time to pull together the scheme so it is unlikely to be in place before spring 2022.
According to the Commercial Tenants Association an estimated £7bn in unpaid rent arrears is owed to commercial landlords.
The government has made clear that any businesses that can pay all or any of their rent should do so.
Barclay said: 'All tenants should start to pay rent again in accordance with their leases as soon as they are able to open.'
