Guidance

Code of practice for the commercial property sector

Government has published a code of practice to encourage commercial tenants and landlords to work together to protect viable businesses.

• From: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021)
• Published: 19 June 2020
• Last updated: 6 April 2021 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on 9 November 2021

This code has been superseded by the ‘Code of practice for commercial property relationships following the COVID-19 pandemic’ published on 9 November 2021. This code sets out the government’s continued encouragement for negotiation between landlord and tenant in the context of the Commercial Rents (Coronavirus) Bill.

Documents

Code of Practice for commercial property relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Code of Practice for commercial property relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic

PDF, 277 KB, 11 pages

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Commercial tenant and landlord Covid-19 rent arrears: Annex to the Code of Practice

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Commercial tenant and landlord Covid-19 rent arrears: Annex to the Code of Practice (Word version)

MS Word Document, 39.4 KB

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Details

Government has published a code of practice 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.

The code is voluntary in nature and is relevant for all commercial leases held by businesses in any sector which have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

It encourages tenants to continue to pay their rent in full if they are in a position to do so and advises that others should pay what they can, whilst acknowledging that landlords should provide support to businesses if they too are able to do so.

It will apply across the UK and encourages tenants and landlords to be transparent in their discussions and to act reasonably and responsibly whilst recognising the impact that coronavirus has had on businesses’ finances.

The code represents best practice within the sector for responding to Covid-19 and is endorsed by the leading representative bodies who formed the code’s steering group:

• British Chambers of Commerce
• British Property Federation
• British Retail Consortium
• Commercial Real Estate Finance Council Europe
• Revo
• Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors
• UKHospitality

To date, a number of other organisations have also endorsed the code:

• Agricultural Law Association
• Association of Convenience Stores
• British Beer and Pubs Association
• British Independent Retailers Association
• Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
• Country Land Association
• Federation of Small Businesses
• Property Owners Forum
• Scottish Property Federation
• Tenant Farmers Association and Tenant Farmers Association Cymru
• UKActive
• UK Major Ports Group

The steering group will continue to work with government to ensure the sector is supported over the coming weeks and welcome further endorsements from representative bodies.

Published 19 June 2020
Last updated 6 April 2021 + show all updates

1. 6 April 2021

   Added further guidance - annex to the Code of Practice.

2. 19 June 2020

   First published.