A SENIOR district councillor is calling on Bradford Council to introduce a three-month ‘rent holiday’ for its commercial tenants forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the move, proposed by Green councillor Martin Love, small independent businesses which pay their rent to the local authority would receive a three-month deferral on their payments – in addition to Government grants now being distributed.

“The crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic is something we have never seen before and calls for new ideas to ensure businesses can get through intact,” he said.

“We need to make sure businesses and community groups are able to financially survive and one simple way the council can help is with rent payments on properties where it is the landlord.”

Councillor Love has also challenged commercial landlords across the district to implement similar schemes.

“If councils can do what is right to protect the long-term interests of our local economy so should commercial landlords,” he added. “A three-month rent holiday for their tenants now could well ensure they are still tenants in the future.”

Bradford Council says it is committed to supporting businesses. For more details visit bradford.gov.uk/business/help-for-businesses/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-business.