The Liberal reformist group in the Brussels parliament, has put forward a draft proposal for an order giving legal status to “pop-up” shops. These temporary shops may possibly be subject to a tenancy for a maximum of one year.
The deputies Marion Lemesre, Willem Draps and Olivier de Clippele consider, “‘Pop-up’ shops are integrated into an unavoidable global marketing development. Brussels should fall entirely within this framework, so as to be a modern capital and respond to the development of commercial property supply and demand.”
The Brussels region has no framework enabling short-term commercial tenancies. The 1951 law only authorises tenancies from 3 to 9 years and prohibits all forms of occasional tenancy. The proposal by the Liberal party instigates a regime of leases which can be anything from one month to a year. If the rental period goes beyond this duration, the general law on commercial tenancies will apply.
The Brussels parliament liberal reformist group thus hopes to stimulate trade in Brussels, given that 12.65% of commercial units are currently unoccupied. It also sees these ephemeral shops as a springboard for reluctant entrepreneurs to set up, and therefore a means to favour the development of small businesses in the capital.
The Brussels Times
