Often with new legislation, we might introduce it with words such as ‘much anticipated’ or ‘welcome’, but the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 is for many landlords and tenants, too late, or unnecessary, because deals have already been done in respect of unpaid COVID commercial rent payments.

The Act came into force on 24 March 2022 and provides a mechanism which allows either a landlord or a tenant to apply to an arbitrator to determine what should happen in relation to unpaid commercial rent that accrued during the pandemic when restrictions were in place that prevented businesses from opening.