Notice comes amid rent strikes calling for a rent freeze
Wholesalers at Melbourne’s wholesale fruit and vegetable market have been given a final deadline to sign a controversial new lease agreement.
Leases for a total of 25 of the 143 Epping stores (relating to 17 tenant businesses) at the Melbourne Market expired in August 2024. Following the announced increases the government-owned Melbourne Market Authority (MMA), which serves as the market’s landlord, gave tenants a ten-week period to review the new leases, which concluded on 15 November.
“To find a resolution, the MMA is again providing additional time, until 17 January 2025, for remaining tenants impacted by this rent adjustment to return their leases,” said an MMA spokesperson.
The final notice comes as the wholesaler member organisation, Fresh State, has led a rent strike, calling for a freeze on rent increases that it says would see tenants’ annual rent increase by over 100 per cent over the next ten years.
It has also called for the resignation of the MMA’s board, CEO and management team through its continuing Take the Pressure Off Campaign.
“The proposed rent rises are unbelievable and unsustainable. The truth is, they just can’t afford it without passing significant costs on to growers, retailers and Victorians,” said Fresh State chief executive, Jason Cooper.
“Melbourne wholesalers already pay the highest rents in the country, almost double Sydney and Brisbane rents, so if these tenants are evicted from the central market, there won’t be anyone lining up to take their place. They simply won’t be able to afford it.”
In response, the MMA has said a freeze on rent would be financially unsustainable.
“The proposed 0 per cent rent increase by Fresh State is simply not commercially viable given the cost to run a facility of this size and to ensure its sustainable future,” a spokesperson said. “However, we are committed to working with tenants to find a path forward that supports both tenants and the legislated objectives of the MMA.”
