In a statement issued by the department for business, energy and industrial strategy this afternoon, the government said the temporary measures would “safeguard the UK high street against aggressive debt recover actions” during the coronavirus pandemic.

BEIS said it would be temporarily banning landlords from issuing both statutory demands and winding up petitions against occupants that hadn’t paid their rents and would almost be making changes to the use of commercial rent arrears recovery.

It also called on both landlords and investors to “work collaboratively” with high street businesses struggling to pay rent on stores forced to close due to the government enforced lockdown.