Blog Layout
Self Catering Accommodation.
richardscamans • Apr 17, 2020
A letter from the Chairman.
Please find below a copy of a letter sent to Janet Finch-Saunders , Harry Saville and Iwan Davies regarding the delay in receiving the grants for their self catering businesses.
Date: 2020-04-17 08:30
From: LHa <chairman@llandudnoha.co.uk>
To: Janet Finch-Saunders <Janet.Finch-Saunders@assembly.wales>
Copy: Harry Saville <cllr.harry.saville@conwy.gov.uk>, Iwan Davies
<Iwan.Davies@conwy.gov.uk>
Dear Janet
I have been receiving a lot of contact from members who operate self
catering accommodation within the town who are finding that they are
very delayed in receiving the grant for business rates.
They have mortgages to be paid as well as insurances and other bills
which have to be paid in just the same manner that other hospitality
businesses do.
My concerns have been realised this morning by the article referring to
these properties as being second homes converted to holiday lets.
I do not doubt that in recent times Council Officers have approved
change of use applications by people without carrying out proper checks
as to whether they are genuine businesses or evading Council tax, but
the council has in the past received the funding allocation for those
who fall in to the small business rate relief. This is not the time to
make genuine businesses suffer as a result of poor legislation by Welsh
Government and lack of checks by Council Officers.
The Association as well as Hospitality Cymru has in the past, raised its
concerns about the lack of legislation to prevent people converting
residential accommodation to unregistered self catering accommodation
and advertising on air bnb (with all the risks and social impacts these
have), but the Government has chosen to delay acting on this.
Members are now facing serious impact financially as a result of the
Governments directive that all Holiday accommodation must close. This
has been further compounded when agents have given those guests who have
booked through them full refunds on the bookings and have charged the
refund back to the property owner, further reducing any funds available
from last season. Just like hotels and guest houses, self catering
owners invest money throughout the winter to upgrade the offer in
response to the Visit Wales policy. This money is invariably spent with
local tradesmen and suppliers, thereby supporting the circular economy
of the county and ensuring even greater tax take for the nation. These
establishmentsestablishments have earnings which fall far below the VAT
threshold so pay 20% on all transactions.
Can I ask you to raise an urgent question about what appears to be a
blatant act of Discriminatory behaviour by Conwy , Gwynedd, Ynys Mon
and Pembrokeshire councils, which reflects the poor processes within
their own authorities and welsh government and is placing self catering
operators at risk of collapse due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Self
catering establishments are due the funds provided by Westminster
Treasury to Welsh Government so why are they not being paid?
Regards
Berin Jones
Chairman
Announcement!!!!
Useful information regarding the change that arrives in July
Christmas 2023
See the "About Us" page for more details on the benefits of becoming a member or
Join the LHA you can get involved in your local hotel community
Some Images Provided from Unsplash