Our colleagues over at Paperjam report that four more communes have joined Luxembourg City, Esch-sur-Alzette, Dudelange and Ettelbruck in suspending rent charges for business in properties they own.

Hesperange mayor Marc Lies (CSV) told Paperjam that rent worth €15,000 from a doctor’s practice and the Hesper Park restaurant would not be collected as long as the crisis lasted. Frank Colabianchi (DP) said that Bertrange has been charging “zero since 15 March” and would not collect rent until the 16 businesses in commune properties can reopen.

Three bistros in Käerjeng have also had rent suspended according to CSV mayor Michel Wolter, who told Paperjam that with average rents of €1,500 a month the economic impact on the commune’s finances would be minimal. “But we want to keep bistros for their social, convivial and cultural contribution,” Wolter said. “We don’t want them to go bankrupt.”

But Differdange faces a shortfall of some €125,000 a month for rents from businesses, artist studios, private homes and restaurants, not to mention start-ups, SMEs and independents installed in the 1535° Creative Hub. The commune has agreed to suspend rents for one month and will then review the situation.