323.Distress for rent is a summary remedy which enables landlords to recover rent arrears without going to court, by taking goods from the let premises and either holding them until the arrears are paid or selling them. It is an ancient common law remedy which, over time, has been extended and modified by successive statutes.
324.The Law Commission’s Report concluded that distress for rent has a number of features which make it inherently unjust to tenants, to third parties and to other creditors and recommended its abolition.
325.Following a period of consultation, the Government decided to accept the Law Commission’s recommendation. However, the consultation revealed that distress for rent is an effective remedy for recovering rent arrears, particularly for commercial properties. If it were to be abolished without any replacement, the Government concluded that there could be disadvantages both to landlords and to tenants of commercial properties.
326.The Act therefore abolishes the current law on distress for rent and replaces it with a modified regime (called Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery or CRAR) for recovering rent arrears due under leases of commercial premises.
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