Northern Ireland Finance Minister Conor Murphy has extended emergency protection for NI business tenants having difficulty paying rent on commercial leases as a result of the pandemic until March 2022.

The special provision in the Coronavirus Act 2020 which was first applied at the end of March 2020, is being extended once again, with NI Business Tenants now having until March 2022.

This has given a total of 24 months of special protection, which is in line with England and Wales.

NI Business Tenants will benefit from extended emergency protection until March 2022.

Making the announcement, Minister Murphy comments, “As we continue to deal with the impact of Covid-19, it is important to provide as much stability and certainty as possible to businesses who are trying to recover from an extremely challenging time.

“We have been engaging with key stakeholders in relation to this.

“And I fully recognise the genuine concerns in relation to the difficult financial situation businesses are facing.

“The reality is it will take some time for economic recovery.

The extension will “help ease NI Business Tenants back into full operation”.

“This moratorium is one of the measures that will help ease businesses back into full operation and deal with their financial challenges.

“This extension provides time for landlords and tenants to work together to resolve matters that have arisen over rent arrears accrued during lockdown restrictions.

“Wherever possible, tenants should of course pay rent.

“I will continue to engage with my colleagues in the other devolved administrations in order to consider what, if any, further measures in relation to commercial rent arrears accrued during the pandemic need to be put in place once the moratorium comes to an end,” Minister Murphy adds.

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