Responding to the extension of the moratorium on debt enforcement announced by MHCLG, Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:

“This news comes in the nick of time for many retailers. With footfall down and many stores completely shut in November, many are counting on December sales to claw back some of the lost turnover from this year. This extension will give hard pressed retailers breathing space to trade their way out of rent arrears that may have built up during lockdown. We hope that landlords and tenants will use this time to jointly agree new rent terms and payment plans to deal with any outstanding arrears.”