PM's Update - Commercial rent relief for small businesses

Small businesses with monthly rents of less than $50,000 will be eligible for a 75% reduction for April, May and June. 50% will be covered by the federal government. The remaining 25% will be covered by the lessor. Non-profits and charities will also be eligible.

In particular:

  • The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.

  • The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.

  • Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70 per cent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.

More details are to come in Mid May.

Source:

PM’s News Release April 24, 2020

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