17 April 2020 | VSBC On 15 April 2020, the Victorian Government announced details of a commercial tenancy relief scheme to alleviate financial hardship faced by tenants and landlords as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). For commercial tenants and landlords, the scheme will provide the following support:

• a six-month moratorium on commercial tenancy evictions for the non-payment of rent for small to medium enterprises with an annual turnover under $50 million that have experienced a minimum 30 per cent reduction in turnover due to coronavirus (COVID-19), commencing from 29 March 2020
• a freeze on rent increases during the moratorium for commercial tenants
• a rental payment waiver or deferral proportionate to commercial tenants’ income reduction due to coronavirus (COVID-19), to be negotiated between the tenant and landlord
• a mediation service for commercial tenants and landlords to support fair tenancy negotiations.

See the full Victorian Small Business Commission information release