Its less to do with spiralling rents than to do with the Governments directives to Local councils and politically sympathetic local councils desire to follow those directives.
Locally some of our Scout groups face similar issues.
Previously low rents are being replaced with commercially calculated rents. Representing massive increases of hundreds of percent.
Groups are looking at having to sign leases of many years at these massive levels. They can however apply for a discretionary discount based on how closely they meet the local councils objectives in terms of community delivery. These are awarded annually. What's the betting next year the criteria changes or they just aren't offered.
Potentially this will force groups to just close removing the opportunity for local young people to gain from the life skills Scouting offers.
Much like the NHS and many other services making them fit a commercial model is just a way to close them down. Short sighted or what.