AQW 23423/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 29/09/2021
Answered On Date: 04/10/2021
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance for an update on planned interventions to assist businesses following the end to protections from forfeiture granted for Business Tenants after 30 September 2021.

Answer:

Legislation has been made and laid by my Department to extend the moratorium here to 25th March 2022, in line with the extension implemented in England and Wales.

My officials have also assessed the high level Westminster policy statement on mandatory arbitration for landlords and commercial tenants in relation to rent arrears accrued whilst the moratorium has been in force. We await the full detail of the proposals, including those on arbitration delivery mechanisms, which will be required in order to conduct an assessment on whether the policy being brought forward is both suitable and operative in our local context.