"The rents and the bills for water, gas and electricity [...] will have to be suspended [...] for the smallest businesses which encounter difficulties", Emmanuel Macron had promised, during his televised address on 16 March.
To put in place, as quickly as possible, this promise from the Head of State, the Federation of Real Estate and Land Companies - which brings together the donors of shopping centers, property owners (individuals) and many groups or associations of donors - had twenty-four hours to agree on a text with the Ministry of the Economy.
This Friday afternoon, an agreement, which we unveil exclusively, was finally found to guarantee the deferral of rents from at least several hundred thousand companies.
Already measures for shopping centers
"The recovery of rents and charges for VSEs and SMEs belonging to one of the sectors whose activity is interrupted by government decree, is suspended from April 1, 2020, and until activity resumes , assures Delphine Charles-Péronne, the general delegate of the Federation of real estate companies. When it resumes, these rents and charges will be deferred or spread without penalty or late payment interest and adapted to the situation of the companies in question ”.
Already, in recent days, the National Council of Shopping Centers (CNCC) had "invited its donor members to suspend rents for the April deadline," said the Ministry of Economy. This concerns a large number of stores belonging to small bosses. "
If it is too early to know precisely how many companies are affected by the measure, restaurateurs, artisans, traders (excluding food) or even owners of SMEs should benefit.
"Depending on the decline in their activity"
What about all the other companies that may also be in trouble with the health crisis? “We are going even further than the announcement by the Head of State, who asked for the postponement of the rents of the smallest companies, welcomes Delphine Charles-Péronne. Indeed, all companies will be able to request a postponement and it will be granted to them on a case-by-case basis, depending on the decline in their activity ”.
What about companies that rent commercial premises from an individual? "We ask everyone to show solidarity," claims Bruno Le Maire. It is in everyone's interest to protect businesses affected by the crisis, especially those forced to close. "On the side of the Federation of Real Estate and Land Companies, we want to clarify that the National Union of Real Estate Owners (UNPI), which brings together individual owners, is signatory to the agreement" and should send it back to its members " .
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To drive the point home, and best protect the most fragile businesses, Bercy is finally preparing an order to create a safety net around businesses eligible for the solidarity fund that would suspend the payment of rent and charges: during this period, lessors could not apply any penalty, and could not have recourse to guaranteed guarantees or seizure of goodwill.
Current energy agreements
For small employers who also wish to request the deferral of water, gas and electricity bills, we assure Bercy that guarantees have already been obtained from EDF and Engie, two main energy suppliers.
"The Minister of Economy has had them online for the past few days and they are committed to this point," said the cabinet of Bruno Le Maire. To take advantage of this deferral of invoices, business leaders must "make a request for an amicable deferral by mail, email or telephone, to EDF or Engie, so that their invoice is shifted", we are told. .
What if you are not at EDF and Engie? The situation will be at the whim of your supplier! "It is complicated to solicit them all in the current situation," we reply to Bercy. We do not know if the others have the backs solid enough, like EDF and Engie, to ensure this shift in bills. But, as far as possible, we hope that they will be in solidarity with the small bosses who are usually good payers. "
