Gwen Layden’s decision to waive rents at her family-owned George’s Arcade has so far cost the business between €400,000 and €500,000 in lost income, she tells the Irish Times Inside Business podcast (above)
“We took the decision to suspend rents for the lockdown. You can’t charge rent if they’re not making money.
“It’s immoral really because they [tenants] won’t have the money to pay you, and they’ll take it from their family savings, which isn’t fair.
“We tailor the rents that are realistic and we have taken it out of our own savings. I’m not saying it doesn’t hurt. It definitely is hurting and dad [Joe Layden] is 77 and he’s been fantastic. But I don’t see any other way. The alternative is that the business closes and a shutter down is good for nobody.”
Gwen Layden, landlord of George’s Street Arcade, Dublin 2.
In fairness.
George’s St owner says charging tenants rent would be ‘immoral’ (Irish Times)
Finally, a good news story.
Thanks, and well done, Gwen.
Classy
Well done to Gwen and the Layden family for their fair and pragmatic approach. There are some great shops in the arcade and I hope they’re supported when the lockdown lifts
i noted that story reported yesterday on St. Patricks day. Not many things are unique to Ireland, but i think this kind of generous gesture is unique to Ireland. Dont mean to bash the UK. But from my experience of working there, in similar circumstances across the water, landlords would be invoking penalty and interest charges in addition to the rent.
god bless your naiveté re: the Irish landlord class and your ability to have a dig at da Brits at the same time. It’s an Irish collective neuroses.
from residental renting, ive had a much better experience in ireland than i did in london. irish landlords i dealt with were personable and had no issues if i let a bit of mold on the bathroom walls, or it was a bit dirty. in london, it was all corporate owners who were happy to enforce charges even if it was just wear and tear.
maybe things will change with more reits entering irish markets.
i could only bash the brits here as ive never lived anywhere apart from UK and Ireland. maybe thats why we bash the brits, its not like the irish know obscure countries that would enable us to take a bash at them.
here’s some cute London landlord-class hoors to consider…..
FT investigation: Property developer Ballymore under fire over surging annual costs and maintenance issues
https://www.ft.com/content/b135b814-dc9e-4abc-bb64-f378d11179d8
Andrew says your experience is not valid. Sorry.
no, just selective and one eyed. Sorry!
Wow! She is a great example for our politicians to follow or even consider.
+100000
Always loved the Arcade, one of the last significant bits of auld Dublin not destroyed by chain stores…. they’re called chains for a reason…
No way that’d happen if dividends / pensions depended on it.
Give that woman the freedom of the city.
Selfless act for so many local businesses to survive.
This has made my week, if not month.
Clearly there are still plenty of decent human beings among us.
All the more sad for businesses who are not being treated with the same level of understanding. My friends café went to the wall because the LL was a total Sh!t
All I can say is Gwen is doing a great job marketing herself, her family and her Proprty. If people only knew how these landlords operate… in a strong market they show tenants no mercy. If they can’t pay the rent, they are out on the street and a new tenant in before you could say boo goo!!! AND then they go chasing for arrears.. Gwen your fooling no one!!!
All I can say is Gwen is doing a great job marketing herself, her family and her Proprty. If people only knew how these landlords operate… in a strong market they show tenants no mercy. If they can’t pay the rent, they are out on the street and a new tenant in before you could say boo hoo!!! AND then they go chasing for arrears.. Gwen your fooling no one!!!
Did you read the bit about her family waiving rents? No?
G’wan Gwen!
Nice.
Fair play Gwen