Q: What does a tenant demonstrate financial stress and hardship
for eligibility to the National Code of Conduct?
A: The Code defines financial stress or hardship as a
tenant's inability to generate sufficient revenue, as a direct
result of the COVID-19 pandemic (including the government trading
restrictions), that causes the tenant to be unable to meet its
financial or contractual obligations (which includes its leasing
obligations).
Eligibility for the JobKeeper Scheme is evidence of financial
stress under the Code. Tenants can provide confirmation of their
enrolment for the JobKeeper Scheme as evidence.
Where the tenant is not eligible for the JobKeeper Scheme,
accounting or banking records that can show reduced income over the
pandemic period to the extent that contractual obligations cannot
be met would also demonstrate financial stress.
