Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2020 No. 209

Business Tenancies

The Business Tenancies (Coronavirus) (Restriction on Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Northern Ireland) (No 2) Regulations 2020

Made

30th September 2020

Coming into operation

1st October 2020

The Department of Finance, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 83(7) of the Coronavirus Act 2020(1), makes the following Regulations.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Business Tenancies (Coronavirus) (Restriction on Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Northern Ireland) (No 2) Regulations 2020 and come into operation on 1st October 2020.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(2) applies to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Extension of "relevant period"

2.  For the purposes of the definition of the relevant period in section 83(7) of the Coronavirus Act 2020, the relevant period ends on 31st December 2020.

Revocation

3.  The Business Tenancies (Coronavirus) (Restriction on Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020(3) are revoked.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 30th September 2020.

(L.S.)

Alan Brontë

A senior officer of the Department of Finance

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Section 83 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 provides that a right of re-entry or forfeiture, under a relevant business tenancy, for non-payment of rent may not be enforced, by action or otherwise, during the relevant period. "Relevant period" is defined in subsection (7) as the period starting with Royal Assent and ending with 30th June 2020 (or such later date as may be specified in Regulations).

Regulation 2 provides that the relevant period is extended to 31st December 2020.

Regulation 3 revokes the Business Tenancies (Coronavirus) (Restriction on Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020.

(1)

2020 c. 7. See section 82(12) for meaning of "national authority"