A senior Bradford Councillor has written to the Leader of Council and the Chief Executive of Bradford Council calling for a three-month rent holiday to its commercial tenants who have been forced to close.
The rent holiday would mean that small, independent businesses across Bradford District, who pay their rent to the Bradford Council, would receive a three-month deferral on their payments, and would be in addition to the government grants now being distributed by the Council.
Councillor Martin Love has said “The crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic is something we have never seen before and calls for new ideas to ensure businesses can get through intact.”
“We need to ensure businesses and community groups are able to financially survive this crisis and one simple way the council can help is with rent payments on properties where it is the landlord.”
Councillor Love has also challenged commercial landlords across Bradford District to implement similar schemes.
“If councils can do what is right to protect the long-term interests of our local economy so should commercial landlords. A three-month rent holiday for their tenants now could well ensure they are still tenants in the future.”
A similar scheme – thought to be first in the country – was introduced by neighbouring Kirklees Council after it was suggested by the leader of the Green Group on Kirklees Council, Councillor Andrew Cooper.
Councillor Cooper, whose Newsome ward includes Huddersfield town centre said, “I originally proposed it to ensure small independent businesses like retailers, pubs, cafes and restaurants survive this crisis intact.”
