COVID-19: Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022: rent arbitration and the implications for enforcement

A practice note outlining the key provisions of the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022, which was introduced to support landlords and tenants in resolving disputes relating to commercial rent arrears that accrued while businesses were forced, by law, to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. The note covers the creation of the statutory arbitration process under the Act, and the restrictions on landlords' enforcement options during the period for referring a dispute to arbitration or while an arbitration is in progress.

This note also considers the Commercial rent code of practice following the COVID-19 pandemic which provides guidance on the arbitration process.