Can the manager of the shopping centre do this?

My husband has had a shop for about a year. He rents it in an indoor small shopping centre. The place has lots of units, but only about 4 are taken. He has found a shop to rent nearer to where we live in an area that will (hopefully) generate more business for us. The centre he is in at the moment is run down and noone is doing anything about it because its lease is up in about 2 years, and is unlikely to be renewed, so the manager is not making much effort to get more businesses -hey, he's on a salary, not self employed, what does he care how many people come to the centre? My husband spoke to him about giving notice, and was told that for the six weeks notice period he would have to pay full rent, which is double what he is paying now and he can barely afford that as not many customers are attracted into the centre. Is this standard, or is he going to be pocketing this extra money? We need all the moeny we have (and to borrow a good deal more) to set up this new business.

We thought we were paying a full rent but apparently we are paying a subsidised rent - which is over 拢270 a week for a unit in a small centre no-one comes to because it is not managed well!

Review the rental agreement about vacating and notice required. If your husband is meeting his terms, and the other guy is changing the game, your husband doesn't have to pay it. You might want to get this guys demands in writing, review the agreement, and if he's wrong, sue his ***!
Might solve som eof your money problems and teach him a lesson.

Read your lease agreement

i only have experience with apartment leases, but I dont think it is lawful for them to charge more UNLESS he is breaking lease... unless right now he is paying less than what is on the lease you say he "would have to pay full rent" is he not paying full rent now?

A commercial real estate lease is a contract enforceable by law. It's not like a residential lease where there are protections for the renter. You are stuck. If you leave the manager will get a small claims court judgment against you and you will have to pay the hard way.

So, he's so far been given a break on the rent, right? It's only fair that if he's leaving he'll have to pay 'full rent.'

Read over your lease agreement. He'll have to stay til it's up.

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A lease is a contract. The landlord has no obligation to help you out of a jam. he has the right to insist on strict compliance with the lease terms.