This means that County Court and High Court judgements on rent debt claims issued from 10 November 2021 will be considered by the arbitration system.

In addition, bankruptcy proceedings commenced from 10 November 2021 and resulting orders will be made void.

These provisions are included in the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill.

The Bill will introduce a ringfence for rent debts built up as a result of mandated business closures during the pandemic while establishing a new binding arbitration process aimed at finding a proportionate solution which protects jobs, prevents further damage to the economy and enables a return to normal commercial relations.