This is really an aside commentary on the aspect of letting ones retail premises, so forgive slight digression.
I've a shop in secondary street in Dublin city centre (got rid of offices and converted them into apts). This shop ,like many in secondary locations whether in Dublin city or suburbs, or in smaller towns across Ireland is difficult to let. Many of the surrounding shops are shut and those that are let are increasingly let to foreigners - mainly nonEU people.
Some of my fellow landlords refuse to deal with them knowing fullwell that the tenants won't be around for long, will not pay the last few months and as Brumel says be bloody difficult to deal with.
However, in the last four years I've only let to foreigners -not because I particularly want to but because -in my area - few Irish individuals or companies are letting shops,even if offered flexible easy terms.( charity and adult shops seem to be the main exception).
So, rather than staying empty I 've had four different overseas tenants in four years. I know they won't stay -no disappointment or surprise for me.
I insist on a couple of months deposit . I tell them that if they find someone else to take over they'll get their deposit back. No contract -just a letter outlining various rules.
They are free to try their best to make money out of their business .
If they fail, no hard feelings -they'll lose their deposit unless they get a replacement. And,so far, they always do.
Two more points-
I pay the rates/water rates. I'd never trust them to. It's included in my rental calculations.
And I pass by at least once a month and pop in for a quick chat. It's easy for me as I have apts nearby and have no other job.
Naturally, if Abercrombie and Fitch want to open a second shop in Dublin city centre and were willing to take miniscule premises in a crappy secondary street then here I am!
In the meantime I'm facing the new reality that the business of letting/renting retail premises is increasingly a transient one with no certainty at all.
(To a lesser extent much of the above could apply to warehouses or offices but I realsie my points apply to certain sections of the retail sector, so forgive the waffle)