Staff have been left in tears after their much “lifeline” charity store had to permanently close following a backdated rent increase.

The rental hike left Strood Community Shop in the high street in £20,000 of arrears and meant it was unable to continue trading.

The store, which sold second-hand goods such as school uniforms and household essentials, was run by couple Steve and Bebe Long, who took it over in 2018 and turned it around after it had gone into liquidation.

But the shop again left teetering on the brink as it struggled to clear its debts and shut for good on Saturday (November 30).

Steve said: “Back in 2019, the landlord was due to make a rent review - they are allowed to do one every five years.

“For various reasons that didn’t really happen and we don’t really know why.”

Then, over a year and a half ago, Steve claims the landlord unexpectedly hiked the rent by 30% – though Steve and Bebe were able to negotiate this down to 10%, which was finalised at the beginning of this year.

“We took some [legal] advice at the time about whether or not it could be backdated and the very clear advice was, yes it could,” he added.

“Since then we have been trying our best to pay it down. Not only are we paying more rent than we were, we have also got this outstanding debt – It’s been a tough year.”

The landlord was approached for comment on several occasions by KentOnline but has not responded at the time of writing.

Since January, the couple say they had to make three people redundant just to “balance the books”.

But, after another rent review took place in August, and in spite of several large monthly payments, Steve says they were faced with no choice but to close up shop.

“Despite having paid our rent for five years on time, every single time we found ourselves in £20,000 worth of debt,” the charity shop boss said.

The couple have been negotiating since January to “find a way out” but recently received a statutory demand from the landlords ordering the money be paid by the end of this week.

“Obviously we can’t do that so we’ve no option but to be insolvent.”

The store’s closure has wider-reaching implications as the support it provides for various local charities collapses.

As a social enterprise, profits it generates are handed to the Strood Community Fund, which is run by charity trustees, to help those in need in the area.

It also had a long history of running various employment initiatives helping hard to reach people, such as those with “challenging backgrounds”, as well as people with learning difficulties and autism.

Steve said: “One of the hardest things about this is saying goodbye to our learning-disabled volunteers because we’ve coached them into being employable people after coming from challenging backgrounds.”

Tim Davie, who had worked at the shop since March last year, said the shop had “been like a family” to him.

He said: “I’ve got autism and they have really treated me well and they have helped me on my way – they’re brilliant.

“I was really scared when I came here like anyone is when they start a new job but this place has really benefited people who are trying to find their way and boosted their confidence.

“Places close like this and there won’t be many places left where they can get the experience.”

It’s heart-breaking for Steve and his team who says they’ve also been “really successful” at getting people from a wide range of “challenging” backgrounds into employment when they might not otherwise get those opportunities.

“It takes a lot of skill and ability to coach people through that process when they lack confidence so those skills are also going to be lost from the community,” he adds.

Holding back tears, Steve added: “I just want to thank all the people who have supported us throughout the years.

“It’s been six years really hard work that has just gone down the drain – that’s what makes me so angry is that we’ve paid our rent on time every time, we’ve worked with the landlord and if they just gave us time we would be able to pay it all.

“They’re not losing any money but yet we are still closing down despite being a profitable company that puts good things into the community.

“There are lots of people who struggle to survive and we’re a lifeline.”

There are lots of people who struggle to survive and we’re a lifeline

After announcing the closure on social media, residents and groups flocked to the comments in shock.

Homeless charity Gillingham Street Angels, which the store supports, said: “We are so sad to hear this Bebe, a staple for the Strood community is to be lost.

“We really hope that you can continue the charity in a different location or way as you and your team bring so much to the area.”

Councillor David Field (Lab), who represents Strood North and Frindsbury, said it was clear the store is a “well-loved community resource” and to take it away seemed “completely unfair and unjustified”.

“It is something we certainly want to support as ward councillors because it [the shop] is really beneficial,” he added.

Cllr Field says the council will work to facilitate discussions with their landlords and assist Bebe and Steve if they need to relocate in Strood.