Gold Creek landlords who gave tenants free rent call for COVID lockdown support

The Andersons have 30-odd tenants at the Canberra attraction, most of which have been forced to shut due to the lockdown.

But the couple have been left frustrated at what they say is a lack of support for both them and their tenants.

The government has promised more support is on the way but the Andersons are frustrated as they say it is coming too slow.

"It's heart wrenching," Mr Anderson said.

Last year during the first lockdown, the Andersons offered free rent to their tenants for two months. They will offer rent relief next month but it would come at a much greater cost.

Mrs Anderson said, as of Wednesday, none of the square's tenants had asked for rental relief but they felt it was their responsibility to offer a concession.

"We're a federation family, we know everyone's history," Mrs Anderson said.

"We are very hands-on people, we have worked very very hard to create federation square but I can't just sit back and watch our life's work go down the gurgler.

"No one has asked for any relief, none of our tenants have asked for anything from us."

ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee spoke about the Andersons' plight in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday afternoon.

"When the pandemic first locked us down in early 2020, the Andersons took it on themselves to give their tenants rent relief before any government support was even announced," Ms Lee said.

"And, as they were reeling from the significant impact restrictions, resulting in virtually a complete and utter decimation of their financial security, they were hit with rates notices and bills that will see them facing a bleak future.

"With so many of their tenants unable to trade during this lockdown, the Andersons are terrified about what the coming months will mean for them or the 30 family-owned businesses in Gold Creek."

Mrs Anderson said, as of Wednesday, none of the square's tenants had received financial report from the ACT government.

The ACT government has come under fire for being too slow to pay out business support grants, which are 50-50 jointly-funded by the territory and the Commonwealth.

Businesses with a turnover decline of 30 per cent are eligible for the payments of up to $30,000 but they have to fill out a lengthy application form online.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the different checks were to prevent fraud but this week he also blamed the removal of the $1500-a-fortnight JobKeeper salary from the federal government. He said the support grants were among the "least efficient" ways to distribute the money.

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Businesses are also able to negotiate rent reductions with their landlords. Commercial landlords who provide discounts can access rates rebates of up to $5000.

However, there is no information online yet for landlords to access the rates relief. Mr Barr said this would become available when the next rates bills are issued.

Rebates will not be applied until the next rates bills are issued, this was despite the fact many landlords paid rates for the first quarter of the 2021-22 financial year this year.

"We'll have information ready for this current quarter and the next quarter," he said.

"You can't get a rebate on a rates bill you haven't yet got but we'll align the timing of those things to ensure that you are able to access the rebate when the bill is issued."

Mr Anderson questioned why the rebate could not be access on the first quarter rates bills, saying the help was needed now.

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