BUSINESS NEWS

Landlords to be forced to let out shops vacant for six months

Landlords to be forced to let out shops vacant for six months
Dan Martin
Dan MartinDan Martin Content & Events

Posted: Wed 20th Apr 2022

The UK government is to unveil plans to give new powers to local authorities to force landlords to rent out high street properties that have been vacant for six months.

According to the Daily Mail, the measure will be included in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which will be announced in the Queen's Speech to mark the state opening of Parliament on 10 May.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium show one in seven shops in the UK are empty and the newspaper said the government hopes the change will boost high street footfall and provide new opportunities to small businesses and community groups.

Under the new plan, as part of the government's 'levelling up' strategy, councils will be able to force landlords to rent out commercial property through a compulsory rental auction.

'Breathe new life into high streets'

A government source told the Mail: "The government's mission to level up will breathe new life into these great towns and end the scourge of boarded-up shops sucking the soul out of once-bustling high streets."

Last week, the government confirmed the regional levels of funding for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which replaces funding from the European Union. Supporting local businesses is one of the key focuses of the fund.

Dan Martin
Dan MartinDan Martin Content & Events
I'm a freelance content creator and event host who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I'm also Enterprise Nation's Local Leader for Bristol. I have 20 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from famous names like Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden to the founders behind brand new start-ups. I've worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company's blog and social media. I now freelance for Enterprise Nation as the website's news reporter and as the host of the Small Business sessions podcast. I'm based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community in my role as Enterprise Nation's Local Leader for Bristol. I also have strong connections with other major business organisations in the south west region. In total, I've hosted over 100 events including conferences with an audience of hundreds for international brands like Xero and Facebook and live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street. With my partner, I co-run Lifestyle District, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.

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