Trader being ‘forced out’ by ‘unfair’ new tenancy terms at Shepherd’s Bush Market

By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter

A Shepherd’s Bush Market trader has been served an eviction notice after refusing to sign a new contract she claims was designed to force her from the site.

Meron Gwiggner, 39, who has run Hone Books Galore since October 2022, is calling on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to refuse Yoo Capital’s plans to redevelop the historic market, arguing an approval would result in her being the first of many traders to be pushed out.

James Horada, the former chairman of the Shepherd’s Bush Market Tenants’ Association, had spoken against Ms Gwiggner’s proposed lease, describing the offer as ‘horrendous’ and with clauses which differ significantly from those held by most traders.

Andrew Thorpe, managing director at Yoo Capital, said the proposed short-term lease and licence contain provisions ‘commonly used in commercial property transactions’, and are the same as those given to other traders on the market.

The dispute follows Hammersmith and Fulham council approving Yoo Capital’s plans to redevelop the 110-year-old market last year. There is now a petition against the redevelopment and the Mayor of London could still veto it.

The company argued investment into the site is necessary if it is to survive, with new stalls, homes and a commercial building featured in the proposals.

But, campaigners from Protect Shepherd’s Bush Market have raised concerns about the leases new traders would be offered and the impact of future rent hikes.

The proposed lease would have involved Ms Gwiggner moving to a new space, in part due to her previous licence expiring, but also, according to the company managing the market, REimagine, because of necessary works to address water leaks at her current shop.

Ms Gwiggner’s concerns included whether the lease would allow Yoo Capital, or anyone it employs, to enter her shop without warning, and that it asks her to sign up to a tenants’ handbook she says she has never seen.

The handbook goes back several years, Mr Horada said, and was initially devised to provide some sort of protection for traders. This fell apart when a document was written up under previous owners in 2017 which he claims involved no consultation and was perceived to be biased towards the landlord.

Another issue, he said, was a clause stating tenants are expected to keep their premises open for business during ‘market opening hours’, contradicting the TfL leases, which gave traders control over working hours.

Mr Horada said: “It’s like a landlord turning around to you and saying ‘yes, you can rent my flat, and rent the flat out and pay the rent, but by the way, you mustn’t be in the flat at this hour or this hour, and you must be home by this time or this time’.”

Having received the proposed lease in mid-January, Ms Gwiggner was initially given a deadline of a week to sign. This was pushed back to last Friday and she was served her eviction notice on Sunday.

She said she will “continue to fight for justice”, claiming there are others who are “terrified and have no voice to speak up”.

Mr Thorpe said: “Without an agreement in place, we cannot continue to give Hone Books Galore a premises at Shepherd’s Bush Market.”

Pictured top: Meron Gwiggner – who says she will “continue to fight for justice” (Picture: Protect Shepherd’s Bush Market)