Latest update: Friday 11 December 2020
The Retail Shop Leases and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020 (the regulation) came into effect on Thursday 28 May 2020 and was extended Tuesday 29 September 2020.
This is the best link we have seen so far for information – https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/support-assistance/qsbc/leasing-advice-dispute/commercial-leasing-code
Previous Information
Last update: Saturday 23 May 2020
The Queensland Government are still in the process of legislating the a mandatory Code of Conduct to reflect what was agreed by National Cabinet in relation to commercial leases. At this stage, as of 23 April 2020, the legislative framework has been passed to allow the Code to be brought in and mandated, but the Code itself has not yet been legislated. It is still unclear what the final version of the Code may look like or who it will apply to.
It is likely that this Code (once legislated) will retrospectively apply.
The REIQ suggest that when considering the request for a reduction in rental payments from the tenant/s, we encourage landlords to consider their own financial situation and the benefit of reaching a prompt agreement with the tenant/s to ensure that they continue to receive some rent during the COVID-19 emergency period.
Here are some current links for Commercial Lease information in regard to Covid19.
QLD Business Queensland Covid19 information page – https://www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/premises-location/covid-commercial-tenants
REIQ Article on Commercial Conduct Under New Code – https://www.reiq.com/articles/commercial-conduct-under-new-code/?utm_campaign=Journal+22April20&utm_medium=email&utm_source=autopilot
REIQ COVID-19 SME Commercial Leasing Principles Fact Sheet – https://www.reiq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/REIQ-Commercial-Leasing-Toolkit.pdf
Want to know the status of rent relief laws around Australia – https://hallandwilcox.com.au/thinking/covid-19-commercial-leasing-rent-relief-laws-australia/
Last update: Thursday, April 23, 2020
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman
Commissioner to help Queensland small business recover
Commercial Tenancies and Covid 19 – Resource Guide
Last update: Saturday 11 April 2020
This resource guide has been crafted to assist all the parties in a commercial tenancy to understand the issues that Covid19 is presenting to both parties in the tenancy relationship.
This is not a promotional publication and we have left out sale-pitch-speak on purpose. The Commercial Guys are real people, we are tenants and we are property owners ourselves; our friends and family are in business and we have heard from some very scared and worried people over the last few weeks. We want ALL tenants and landlords to work together to find a way through this so that we can all give each other the best opportunity to survive.
