Key Points
- Increases in Rent: Small independent retailers on Mulberry Parade in West Drayton are seeing rent increases of 100 per cent or more from Hillingdon Council.
- Backdating Problem: The traders say that the increased rents are being backdated to times when the rent review should have taken place but failed to do so because the council did not undertake the reviews at the time.
- Business and Health Impact: There has been considerable stress among business owners with some requiring sleeping pills for fear of losing both their job and home.
- Intimidation Allegations: The landlords say that the approach of the council has been “intimidating and heavy-handed” with sudden changes in council officers and the issuance of Section 25 notices.
- Reasoning from the Council: According to Hillingdon Council, the rents had been too low for many years and it was the duty of the council to taxpayers to provide “best value.”
- Misconduct Denial: The local authority denies completely any charges that tenants have been badly or rudely treated, saying that compliance with the leases is essential good property management.
West Drayton, London (The Londoner News) August 15, 2026 – Independent traders on a prominent west London parade are warning of imminent business closures as Hillingdon Council moves to implement rent increases exceeding 100 per cent. The situation at Mulberry Parade has sparked a standoff between long-term shop owners and the local authority, with business operators claiming that the council’s aggressive approach to rent reviews and backdating of payments threatens to extinguish livelihoods that have served the community for decades.
As reported by Philip James Lynch of the Evening Standard, a number of shops on Mulberry Parade have received notice from Hillingdon Council that their rents will be adjusted to new levels. The dispute has escalated into a crisis for local entrepreneurs, some of whom have been forced to seek medical intervention to manage the resulting anxiety.
Why are the traders so concerned about the council’s rent review process?
The primary contention lies not only in the scale of the increase but in the methodology the council has employed. According to reports from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), traders allege that the rent reviews were originally scheduled to occur between one and three years ago. However, because the council failed to conduct these reviews at the appropriate time, it is now seeking to backdate the significantly higher rental rates to those past dates.
Business owners argue that this creates an unsustainable financial burden, pushing them into debt before they have even adjusted to the new, higher monthly outgoings.
How is the rent crisis impacting the lives of small business owners?
The human toll of this administrative decision is becoming increasingly visible. Louise McGinty, who owns ‘Funky Flowers’ and the coffee shop ‘Nessy’s and Norman’s’, described the situation as overwhelming. As noted by Philip James Lynch, the flower shop has been a fixture of the area for over 20 years, while the cafe was established as a community hub in memory of her sister.
Mrs. McGinty told the LDRS that the council’s actions leave no room for investment or growth.
“They are aggressively going to do this,”
she stated.
“If we accept the increase there are implications on everyone’s business; for example, we would lose an apprentice and a part-time member of staff overnight.”
She further questioned whether the council had conducted any impact assessment regarding the loss of these community-focused services should the shops be forced to shutter.
The stress is equally profound for other traders. Sukhpreet Singh Kang, owner of the local chip shop ‘The Codfather’, revealed the extreme toll the uncertainty has taken. As reported by the Evening Standard, Mr. Kang has been prescribed sleeping medication to cope with the mounting pressure.
“I’m worried now about what’s coming, it’s stressed me out,”
he told the LDRS.
“I’ve already invested £60,000, I don’t know whether to invest any more. I live above [The Codfather], if I lose my shop, I lose my home – I could be homeless.”
Explore more West London News:
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital A&E Awarded Outstanding Rating 2026
West London NHS Trust Shortlisted for Three HSJ Awards, Ealing 2026
What are the specific allegations of ‘heavy-handed’ tactics by the council?
Tensions have been further exacerbated by the perceived conduct of council officers. Jatish Mistry, whose family has run the ‘Carewell Chemist’ on the parade for 35 years, told the LDRS that the process has been fraught with inconsistency.
Mr. Mistry claimed that the family had previously reached an agreement in principle for a new lease, only for the situation to change abruptly following staff turnover at the council. He alleged that a new council officer dismissed the previous understanding and presented entirely new, more expensive terms. Subsequently, the council served the chemist with a Section 25 Notice, a legal mechanism for ending a tenancy which requires the tenant to either accept the new lease terms or vacate the premises. Mr. Mistry described this action as “heavy-handed and intimidating.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Bobby Gharu, who runs ‘Dem Barbers’. He informed the LDRS that he felt treated “very rudely” by council officers. “It’s scary, how they’re treating us is sad. We thought we could rely on these guys,” he added.
How does Hillingdon Council defend its position?
In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for Hillingdon Council has defended the local authority’s stance, emphasising the need for fiscal responsibility. As cited by Philip James Lynch in the Evening Standard, the spokesperson stated:
“As a borough, we’re very much open for business and want Mulberry Parade and the businesses based there to thrive, and we will continue to work constructively with tenants.”
However, the council clarified its position on the commercial realities of the situation:
“The council also has a responsibility to Hillingdon taxpayers to manage its commercial properties properly and achieve best value. Rents at Mulberry Parade have been below market value for a number of years and, where reviews or renewals are due, rents are being assessed against market evidence and in accordance with the leases agreed by tenants.”
Regarding the allegations of misconduct, the council spokesperson was categorical in its rejection:
“We completely reject any suggestion that tenants are being treated rudely, unfairly or intimidated. Asking a tenant to comply with the terms of their lease, or raising a breach where one has occurred, is a normal and necessary part of responsible property management.”
The authority maintains that it has no intention of forcing successful businesses out of the area, noting that it has provided concessions in the past. However, the spokesperson concluded:
“We cannot indefinitely subsidise commercial businesses through below-market rents at the expense of our residents. We will continue to engage with each tenant, but any agreement must be fair, reflect the market and protect the interests of Hillingdon taxpayers.”
