Covid 19 - What you need to know - Impact On Pub Code Of National Lockdown #3

As with previous lockdowns a declaration, in identical terms and with the same effect as that entered into as agreed by the pub-owning businesses ('POBs') between March and June 2020 and 5th November to 2nd December has been issued.

The declaration is signed by Directors of all the regulated POBs and serves to protect certain tenants’ rights during the latest closure without burdening them with the need to initiate arbitration proceedings themselves. The declaration effectively stops the clock as at 6th January on significant code deadlines and thereby safeguards Market Rent Only ('MRO') rights.

However of importance is that the declaration does not prevent tenants from taking code steps during the period should they wish to do so.

The current declaration, which can be read in full here, applies until 31st March 2021 (described as the ‘ emergency period’ in the declaration itself).

The Government has also provided a notice expanding further on the impact of the declaration and its meaning which can be found here.