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In our post on 8 November we highlighted that some high street stores in depressed areas are being let for £1 allowing landlords to avoid business rates on vacant units. There are now reports that some landlords and listed retail groups are paying charities to occupy their vacant units and exploiting their charitable status giving discounts of up to 100% on liability for rates. Donations are seen as cheaper than paying rates. However, some charities are not even occupying the shops and are just placing posters in the windows. Hilary Benn, shadow communities secretary, has called on local authorities to investigate. His view is that placing posters in an otherwise empty shop should not qualify for rate relief.
Business rates on the high street is an increasingly contentious issue and we’ll have to see how the government reacts once Mary Portas’ report is published.
Judgement has been handed down for the seminal case of Cardtronics UK Ltd and others (Respondents) v Sykes and others (Valuation Officers) (Appellants) [2020] UKSC 21.
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Following an MP debate on 5 November 2019, the government is due to release long-awaited guidance as to how it intends to protect workers in the retail industry against violence, harassment and abuse.
Some commentators had anticipated that persisting retail sector challenges might disrupt more than the make-up of the high street or commercial property negotiations between landlords and tenants.
Mandatory registration under the Drone Safe Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Service starts at 00.00 on 30 November 2019.
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