As the next quarter's rent falls due, who should pay it while businesses are closed? : He pays £70,000 a year to his landlord. On top of that, he must also fund a service charge, business rates and a tables and chairs license. Round the corner, Patrick Dudley Williams, who runs the clothing brand Reef Knots, is in a similar position. He said it would not be sustainable to borrow money to fund rent for his shop, which is currently closed and in a part of the city that is unlikely to see customers return for some time.