Traders threaten to withhold rent to force talks

RETAILERS across the country have threatened to withhold rent in an effort to force landlords into face-to-face talks about rent reductions.

The news emerged last night after representatives of the retail industry met the Tánaiste to discuss their concerns about upward-only rent reviews and how the practice is threatening thousands of jobs.

The issue was also raised in the Dáil by Labour TD Ciarán Lynch after controversy erupted on Monday about rent reviews at the Wilton Shopping Centre in Cork.