One of the most critical initiatives for the business community in the current crisis lies in the hands of our commercial landlords.

So the message to landlords is, please talk to your tenants. It will be a vital step on the journey to recovery.

The use of existing rent deposits held by landlords is a clear example of where this dialogue is really important.

Landlords can draw on the three month deposit lodged with them to help ease the rental pressures on tenants and give them breathing space, while at the same time keeping rental income coming in.

With agreement there could be no immediate demand for the deposit to be replenished, this would be subject to a conversation between landlord and tenants as things begin to get back to some kind of normality.

This is one of the most important things we can do to support our business community.

As one of our levy payers put it to me: “The effects of COVID-19 will be felt long after this shutdown. Landlords must work with tenants in more innovative ways.

Kicking the can down the road with rent deferrals is not going to help anyone.

As in the United States, rent deposits must be released or rent free periods given. Those who pull every lever during this unprecedented crisis are the ones who will come out the other side.”

Meanwhile the way business works in future may change considerably.

We are likely to see many more people working from home in the post coronavirus world. Until recently fewer than 2m worked this way. Now that is much, much higher.

The professionalism of our homes will surely move forward in a big way.

Business has adapted very quickly to new ways of communicating, including Zoom, Teams and Skype - or even just a simple phone call or email.

Business leaders now realise they probably don’t need to travel as much to meetings at home and abroad.

There may be less demand for high cost office space as employers see their staff are working more productively and cost effectively at home. And without the need to commute.

There will also surely be a commensurate rise in the demand for shares workspace.

There is much to think about as we try to move to recovery.

Martin Davies

Chairman

Bournemouth Town Centre BID