Madam, – In response to Jack Fagan’s article (“Few Wexford retailers refused rent cut”, Commercial Property, June 8th), a survey of retailers shows that 19 per cent were refused rent reductions and it is contended that there may be no need for radical changes on rent reviews.
As a company secretary working in an indigenous Irish retail company employing 200 staff across 18 locations, I am constantly battling with landlords in trying to secure rent abatements. The Wexford survey findings bear no correlation to my experience, indeed the south east of the county has proved to be the most difficult area in securing rent abatements.
As promised, Government must urgently legislate and remove upward-only rent reviews from existing leases, failure to do so will result in more shop closures and further job losses in the Irish retail industry.
– Yours, etc,