At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Government had hinted that landlords should try and help tenants to the extent possible. In view of this unprecedented situation, many landlords and entrepreneurs followed directions given by the MDA and voluntarily made temporary arrangements with their tenants, both residential and commercial, to significantly lower rent payments.
In many cases, these temporary arrangements have literally saved many families from ending up without any accommodation and businesses to keep their premises until better times hopefully re-emerge.
Whilst acknowledging that government did well to help vulnerable segments with residential leases, the MDA calls on Government to walk the talk and do its part also with respect to all government leases, particularly the commercial segment.
The association notes that so far, those businesses and commercial establishments which have government related leases, including those with MIP and the Lands Authority, have not yet benefitted from any form of voluntary temporary arrangements with their landlord (the government) and are still paying pre-Covid-19 rates.
As a landlord, government should also lead by example.
The MDA calls on the authorities to remedy this situation as soon as possible as this will also result in much needed help for many businesses who are at a standstill and need to reduce their current costs in order to try to survive.