The government aims to support high streets by curbing inflated rents, allowing tenants to trigger reviews and enabling rent reductions. While the move may help struggling businesses, critics question the evidence base and warn of unintended consequences—such as landlords demanding higher initial rents or shifting to stepped increases. The ban won’t affect existing leases, but will apply to renewals and licensed premises.
Rothwell and Shah note that stepped rents, excluded from the ban, may become more common, though they risk falling below market rates. The authors suggest the reforms could spark more litigation and reshape commercial leasing practices. Whether the intervention balances tenant protection with investment incentives remains to be seen.
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