RENT RELIEF HITS STUMBLING BLOCK
The Government has rushed through legislation amending the Property Law Act 2007 by inserting a retrospective clause into all commercial leases requiring a “fair proportion of rent and outgoings relief to be negotiated between landlord and tenant where a tenant has been unable to fully conduct their business in their premises due to pandemic lockdowns”.
The announcement was dropped on commercial landlords by Justice Minister Kris Faafoi without consultation or notice and only a few days were allowed for submissions before the legislation was passed under urgency.
The law change applies without exception to leases which do not already have an existing rental abatement clause.
If landlords and tenants have already
