Demand for end to archaic practice
A total of 80,000 small retailers and bigger chain stores have joined a campaign to end a centuries-old practice that they say is expensive and outdated.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is leading the offensive against shop landlords demanding three months' rent up front, which it says causes serious cash flow problems especially for small traders. It wants landlords to accept one month's rent in advance, and has set up a website to explain the campaign in more detail.
More than a dozen trade associations have joined the campaign, and 51 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion backing its demands.
The BRC's Kevin Hawkins said:
"The growing scale of support for this campaign indicates the pressure retailers of all sizes are under."At a time when they are being squeezed by rents, rates, service charges, wage and energy bills rising well above inflation, this archaic rents practice adds an extra burden they could do without."
