Rent relief for businesses? Small businesses ask Gov. Lamont for help

Small businesses are asking Gov. Lamont for help as they deal with landlords who they say are squeezing them for money amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

News 12 Staff

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Apr 29, 2020, 9:28 PM

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Updated 1,902 days ago

Small businesses are asking Gov. Lamont for help as they deal with landlords who they say are squeezing them for money amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Lamont issued an executive order protecting residential tenants, including banning evictions until July. Renters were granted a 60-day grace period on payments and the right to use the security deposit as compensation.

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The order did not apply to businesses, which are still at the mercy of their landlord.

Gov. Lamont's office says landlords can defer mortgage and utility payments.

"We're really counting on commercial landlords who are getting a number of benefits if they have mortgages and so forth, to be able to pass those benefits through,” says Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer.

Gov. Lamont's office says that if they hear from enough businesses, they might step in to help them.

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