‘Large retail chains stop paying rent’ | Financial

This is what Het Financieele Dagblad writes after a tour of various retail chains. They argue that the drastic steps are necessary because otherwise they themselves fall over.

Lingerie chain Hunkemöller stopped paying rent and says it wants to talk about an arrangement after the lockdown. Many other retail chains such as Blokker, Wibra and shoe chain Omoda pay half the rent. Just like the trade association INretail, they want retail chains and their business partners to share the pain of the lockdown.

Landlords blame the harsh attitude of some retail chains, but the retailers are also accused. Blokker owner Michiel Witteveen, for example, acknowledges that some real estate owners are stuck because they simply have to keep paying repayments and interest to the bank. “But if landlords hold their ground, we will go to court.”

Laurens van de Noort, director of Vastgoed Belang, says that his supporters gave rent discounts during the first lockdown last year. The rack is now out for many smaller parties. “My support consists largely of entrepreneurs who have one or two buildings and who have to live on the rent.” Vastgoed Belang advocates support measures from the government that also help landlords.