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UORRs are a very small part of the problem. The basic terms of commercial leases are close to iniquitous these days. Mostly skewed in landlords favour and virtually impossible to challenge for all but the most massive retail giants.

Add to that an increasing burden from service charges, sinking funds, buildings insurance, loss of rent insurance (that we pay on the landlords behalf!) and it gets even more 'interesting'.

Then along comes the valuation office and bungs another 50% on top, just for good measure. If you trade in London and are unlucky enough to fall foul of the Crossrail levy you pay that too. Finally, if you take out a new lease you pay a fortune in stamp duty for the privilege.

The only people making real money out of the smaller retail operations at the moment are landlords and the government. Both of which could be reigned in by a legally binding reformation of lease law and a revision of an outdated and onerous rating system.

Its not a difficult task if the political will were there. But successive governments have dodged it and I see no reason to believe the current lot will be any different.