Nine trade associations, including the British Hardware Federation and the Association of Charity Shops, rallied in the call against the outdated practice of retail landlords demanding three months' rent in advance.
BRC head of property Paul Browne said the campaign, which kicked off in May with a letter to major landlords, had already received a positive initial response, with many BRC members managing to secure monthly rentals on new leases.
Browne welcomed the support of smaller retailers in the campaign. He said: 'These are the guys that rent off small independent landlords. The big landlords are the natural leaders. If they lead the way, the others may follow.'
By the end of the year, the BRC plans to have launched a standard to publicly recognise landlords that demonstrate flexibility with rent. Browne refuted concerns by the British Property Federation that the BRC would use the award to name and shame landlords. He said: 'We're looking to reward good practice.'
Travis Perkins group head of property Martin Meech, who has more than 1,000 properties in his portfolio, said the campaign is helping standardise what is becoming the industry practice.
He said: 'Of the leases we've been taking this year, 70 per cent are monthly in advance.' He believes the inroads already made by the campaign will filter down to smaller landlords. 'There's a duty in the industry to modernise,' he added.
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