Around £11 million had already been deferred, reduced or cancelled by agreements or due to administrations and CVA
One of the UK’s biggest commercial landlords has seen a slump in rent collections in the final three months of 2020 as tenants – particularly retailers – struggled to make payments.
Land Securities, also known as Landsec, said rent collection due on December 25 was just 65% – compared with 94% at the same point a year earlier. Bosses had been due £112 million in rents.
Some £11 million had already been deferred, reduced or cancelled by agreements or due to administrations and company voluntary arrangements (CVA). But a further £35 million went missing, including £14 million which is pending documentation of agreed concessions.
Office tenants were the best payers, with 87% making the rent deadline.
But the rest of Landsec’s central London estate, mainly made up of retail and leisure businesses, slumped to just 29%.
Only 36% of rents due by regional retail tenants was paid as lockdowns and tier restrictions in the run-up to Christmas led to closures.
Commercial landlords have been particularly concerned about the state of high streets, with London hit harder than other areas of the country.
The capital has remained a ghost town since November’s lockdown – with just a handful of busier days between the end of the lockdown and introduction of tiering, which saw non-essential retailers close their doors again.
In the nine months to December 24, Landsec said the total gross amount due had been £553 million.
Insolvencies and CVA agreements saw that fall £15 million, it fell a further £21 million with agreed discounts and £8 million in deferred payments.
The company has an £11.8 billion portfolio spanning 24 million square feet, including the Piccadilly Lights in the West End and the regeneration of London’s Victoria.
