Small businesses: attacked by the government, real estate companies say they are already doing a lot

Property companies renting premises to small businesses have already given up many rents in the face of the virus crisis, the sector federation assured Thursday, while the government accuses some of them of not doing enough.

Read also: Will the re-containment really cost half the price of the containment?

"

" the Federation of Real Estate and Land Companies (FSIF) said in a statement.

The day before, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, had accused some real estate companies of "not playing the game" because, according to him, they refuse to grant rent reductions to their tenants weakened by the virus crisis.

"On

", replied the federation.

According to her, in the second and third quarters, the real estate companies gave up collecting around 30% of the rents owed by small traders and this represents a shortfall of more than 200 million euros.

Taking into account other measures, the federation mentions a total of 430 million euros in aid to traders.

While Bruno Le Maire threatened to "

" the big real estate companies to do more, their federation asks him not to hinder the negotiations in progress.

The

estate companies "

", assures the FSIF, which asks to meet Mr. Le Maire.

Read also: Containment: traders and landlords are fighting over rents

Many businesses were forced to close during the first confinement, in the spring, and must be closed again for the re-containment decreed at the end of October, even if this measure arouses stronger opposition this time from professional organizations and local elected officials.

The government has set up an incentive for landlords to waive rents, via a tax credit, but Bruno Le Maire believes that they are struggling to seize it.