Serial bankruptcies, small independents on the carpet and empty premises that are multiplying. This is the cataclysm that the epidemic could provoke and which the Council of State wants to avoid. For this, he is ready to assume half of the rents of certain commercial premises, provided that the owner gives up the other half. A completely new measure that State Councilor Pierre Maudet presented yesterday in the presence of representatives of owners and tenants.
This aid is aimed at micro-companies as well as the self-employed. “This is the most exposed category,” notes Pierre Maudet. Its turnover is reduced to nothing and years of effort have gone to dust. It is urgent to relieve these people who cannot claim partial unemployment or loss of earnings. ”
As commercial rent sometimes represents half of their fixed costs, this is where the effort is focused. Upon request, the state will pay half of the rent while the landlord will give up the other half.
This aid only applies to rents not exceeding 3,500 francs per month without charges. Currently, it is only valid for the month of April. It is not granted if the tenant was late in paying his rent by March 17.
To obtain this support, simply fill out a single page form, accessible at innovation.ge.ch. The procedure is “simple, fast and efficient,” says the magistrate.
If the self-employed can still pay part of their rent, they can be helped according to the same principle of “symmetry of sacrifices”.
This measure was the subject of an agreement between the State, the Tenants Association (Asloca), the Geneva Real Estate Board (CGI, representing the owners) as well as the Swiss Union of Real Estate Professionals (USPI , representing the authorities).
The owners’ gesture is obviously to please. For Pierre Maudet, the latter should find an advantage. “They will be protected from a total default which would expose them to being unable to cover the costs of their building.” The authorities agree to promptly forward requests to the owners.
The signatories of the agreement estimate that about 3500 commercial premises could be the subject of a request for aid, which would correspond to an expenditure, for the State, of approximately six million francs for the month of April. This money will be donated.
Pierre Maudet insisted on one point: “To those who can pay their rent, we ask them to do so. This agreement is placed under the sign of good citizenship. ” On the application form, the candidate agrees moreover “on honor” to be in difficulty because of the epidemic.
The details of this agreement on the website of the canton of Geneva
Created: 06.04.2020, 5:45 p.m.
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