Grant Funding Question.

[georgel]

Hi everyone,

Hope someone can answer this for me. We rent a shop but the rates are not in our name. The shop is eligible for rates relief so no rates payment is required to local council. The landlord has already made a claim for the grant as rates invoice is in his name. He states it's his claim to make and not mine. He has offered 3 months free rent or until I'm allowed to open again. Is this correct?

Thanks.

 

[Mr D]

It sounds better than some of the agreements that businesses have made with landlords.

Would have been better for you if rates had been in your name.

 

[georgel]

Hi Mr D,

Thanks for responding. Never gave it a thought that I could possibly mean as much as what it does. Hindsight is a great thing.

So everyone think I should just roll with his proposal?

Thanks

 

[anonuk]

I would say not. Personally I would phone your council and tell them you are the occupier and not your landlord. You may not be able to claim the grant now as the record wasn’t correct as of 11th March but the grant isn’t intended for your landlord to line his greedy pockets, so I’d be inclined to contact your council just to stop him getting the grant.

 

[kulture]

I would say not. Personally I would phone your council and tell them you are the occupier and not your landlord. You may not be able to claim the grant now as the record wasn’t correct as of 11th March but the grant isn’t intended for your landlord to line his greedy pockets, so I’d be inclined to contact your council just to stop him getting the grant.

Of course if you do that neither of you will get the grant and you will not get your 3 month free rent (how much is that by the way) and you will annoy your landlord.

 

[Mr D]

Hi Mr D,

Thanks for responding. Never gave it a thought that I could possibly mean as much as what it does. Hindsight is a great thing.

So everyone think I should just roll with his proposal?

Thanks

Would other action annoy the landlord?
Would other action gain you any money?

 

[anonuk]

Of course if you do that neither of you will get the grant and you will not get your 3 month free rent (how much is that by the way) and you will annoy your landlord.

Yes but it’s also the landlord committing fraud as he’s not the legal occupier and therefore not eligible for the grant.

of course, the op could always get it in writing first that the landlord will give him three months rent free - yes he’ll still annoy the landlord but that’s what you get for attempting to commit fraud.

 

[Mr D]

Yes but it’s also the landlord committing fraud as he’s not the legal occupier and therefore not eligible for the grant.

of course, the op could always get it in writing first that the landlord will give him three months rent free - yes he’ll still annoy the landlord but that’s what you get for attempting to commit fraud.

So the landlord got the grant despite not being eligible for it?

Darn those councils sure have become lax in recent years. Used to be they couldn't make such mistakes - even had court cases about not making such mistakes.

 

[Ian J]

Yes but it’s also the landlord committing fraud as he’s not the legal occupier and therefore not eligible for the grant.

Could you provide a link to the part of the legislation that says that only the occupier of business premises can apply for the grant as my understanding is that it's the ratepayer who is eligible

 

[Porky]

Yes but it’s also the landlord committing fraud as he’s not the legal occupier and therefore not eligible for the grant.

of course, the op could always get it in writing first that the landlord will give him three months rent free - yes he’ll still annoy the landlord but that’s what you get for attempting to commit fraud.

Wow, I’m amazed that some here lack any integrity these days and the let’s go for the “snitch” option.whats wrong with people?

The rates are in the landlords name, if the council were asking for money not giving a grant I guess it would be ok then for the “nasty” landlord to pick up the tab?

Meanwhile let’s just think through the reply, you get a letter confirming the three months, you snitch on your landlord and the council question the landlord and either pull the grant or let it stand as it’s within the guidelines eitherway landlord p@ssed off, three months later he doubles your rent? If I was the landlord Sorry but I would want to get you out as a trouble maker frankly

 

[kulture]

The other thing to consider is what additional taxes that will be levied in the future to pay for this. Any bets that SBRR will be lowered from 100% relief to say 50%? The landlord may get the grant now and repay it over time in the months and years ahead.

 

[ADW]

Just phone up the council to query the intended recipient of the grant, the person who trades from there or the property owner/landlord. Best do it without giving your details and premises. I would think this is intended for you as the company affected by shutdown.

How does the landlord pass on the costs of the rates onto you as that could be key depending on how it is worded?

 

[Joanne Johnson]

Hi there georgel, just wanted to say you are not the only one in this boat. I rent an office in a shared building, landlord pays the business rates, so none of us are entitled to anything and we cannot get the landlord to reduce the rent either - so they are getting the grant, the business rate relief (think they pay £250 for this year!) and our rent. Contacted the Council and our local MP, to flag it up, and the Council did offer me the chance to split out my rates and back date it to last year - but I don't want the hassle of moving tbh.....so now I am looking at loans or crowdfunding. Not much help to you I'm afraid - but I expect there will be many businesses like ours that will slip through the net. Good luck - hope you find a way to survive!

 

[MOIC]

He has offered 3 months free rent or until I'm allowed to open again

Sounds like a 'fair' landlord to me.

Unusual.