Request ID: FOI-0608-2122 Date published: 21 July 2021
You asked
For In station London Underground Tube stations.
Please provide particulars of “special” agreed covid rents (figures) and type of rents (eg: percentage turnover, 90% discount etc) given to Pret, Starbucks, Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee, Black Sheep broken down by City Of London Locations to West End And surrounding
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0608-2122/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 24 June 2021 asking for information about London Underground rents.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. However, we are not obliged to provide you with information on specific rent adjustments as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2). In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied as disclosure would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests.
Releasing information regarding rents paid by individual companies, and the details of any ‘“special” agreed Covid rents could hinder TfL’s ability to negotiate the best rental values in the future.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.
While we are unable to provide the information you have requested, I would like to highlight that since March 2020, Transport for London’s property teams have worked hard to support their customers. In March 2020, TfL was the first major landlord to announce that small business customers would not have to pay rent for the March 2020 quarter. For the June 2020 quarter, small businesses paid a maximum of 50 per cent of their rent. Since then, TfL has offered targeted support based on sector, location of business and the impact of the pandemic.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
