peppercorn rent

English

Noun

peppercorn rent (plural peppercorn rents)

1. A nominal rent, originally of a single peppercorn. [from 16th c.]
   • 2016 May, Simon Heffer, Literary Review, page 1:

     Where public libraries are scheduled for closure, their premises and stock should be offered at a peppercorn rent and on a long lease to any subscription library wishing to take them over.

   • 2020 September 23, “Network News: South Western CRPs return to work”, in Rail, page 20:

     Both groups rent space from SWR on a peppercorn rent basis.

   • 2024 March 27, Jade Angeles Fitton, “A moment that changed me: my partner drove off and left me – and in solitude I found my self-confidence”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     Autumn turned to winter and then spring. I had to leave the property, as the rent was going up and I couldn’t afford it. But I wanted to remain alone. By a stroke of luck, I was offered a peppercorn rent on a holiday cottage by the sea that I had previously cleaned as a housekeeper.