Ei Group extends rent suspension

In a letter seen by The Morning Advertiser​, which was dated Thursday 9 April and signed by Ei Publican Partnerships managing director Nick Light, the group said this included insurance, tie release fees, fixtures and fittings rental and purchase agreements where applicable.

It added it would be deferring the collection of service fees for those pubs with service contracts arranged through Ei Group for services such as annual testing of specified matters of a health and safety aspect, boilers and cellar cooling.

Government support

The letter also cited the Government support available including grants, deferred VAT and income tax payments, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, business rates cancellation, business interruption loans and self-employed income support before highlighting a guide it has provided to give its licensees more detail on these measures.

The pubco said it was continuing to lobby the Government to ensure the Small Business Rates Relief and larger grant relief payments from local authorities were made quickly and for grants to be extended to all pubs, regardless of rateable value.

Ei added it appreciated the accumulation of arrears would be worrying for its publicans and said while the Chancellor explained the support measures were to help ongoing fixed costs such as rent, the pubco accepted the extent of the support would vary according to personal and pub specific circumstances.

Previous announcement

The letter went on to say Ei Group intends to view the future recovery of arrears on such a basis, when it comes to the extent to which it seeks repayment and the duration of any payment plans.

Ei Group previously announced it was deferring the collection of rent and fees from its licensees for the whole of April​ and said it was a move that would remain under constant review while the coronavirus pandemic continues.

It also outlined it was keeping its licensees informed about the help measures available from the Government.