Finance Minister extends protection for business tenancies for longer

Finance Minister Conor Murphy has extended an emergency provision for tenants by a further three months in order to protect businesses at this difficult time.
Finance Minister Conor MurphyFinance Minister Conor Murphy
Finance Minister Conor Murphy

The move, which extends the special provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020, means business tenants here are now protected from the threat of eviction because of non-payment of rent until December 31 2020.

Minister Murphy explained: “Covid-19 continues to have a massive impact on our economy and I want to do all I can to support businesses through to recovery. This emergency provision was in place until the end of September; however, given the continued challenges arising from the pandemic I am extending again the emergency provision for a further three months.

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“I recognise the pressure on landlords too, and so I would again continue to encourage landlords and tenants to work together – tenants should continue to meet their legal obligations and pay their rent in full if they can.

“However, where this is not possible landlords will I hope show leniency to those businesses in difficulty at this time.”

* The Department of Finance inserted a special provision into the Coronavirus Act. That special provision originally applied during the period from March 25 2020 to June 30 2020 and has been extended for the second time, now until December 31 2020.

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