Government support to save jobs and businesses

This evening, in a bid to protect jobs and small to medium businesses, the Chancellor announced a dramatic escalation of Government support in a bid to save jobs and dissuade employers from laying off staff.

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The announcement included measures to cover 80% of wages for staff who are unable to work due to the current crisis, an increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to 30% of market rent (an increase that Propertymark has long called for), and further steps to bring temporary closure to many shops and businesses.

Propertymark's message to Government has been support salaries, provide business rate relief and #KeepTheRentFlowing.

Sunak said that any employer in the country will be eligible for a grant to cover most of the wages of retained staff, up to £2500, which is more than the median. This underpins the commitments that workers in any part of the UK will keep their jobs even if their employer cannot pay the salary. This will apply to as many jobs as necessary and will be backdated to 1 March with the scheme staying open for at least 3 months.

He thanked business groups for their constructive approach and said that HMRC is working to get this in place in the next two weeks or before the end of April at the latest, going on to say that the Coronavirus Business Intervention Fund will now be interest-free for 12 months and available from Monday.

He further committed to deferring the next quarter of VAT (due at the end of June) and said that the bill will not have to be paid until the end of the financial year.

Propertymark will continue to press the case for property agents to receive relief on Business Rates.

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