BII welcomes BEC support for rent review scheme

The BII has welcomed supprt for an Independent Expert Determination Service in the Business and Enterprise Committee report into pub companies.

The service would aim improve the way rent reviews are determined where other means have failed to reach a mutually acceptable outcome.

The trade body is acting as a facilitator for the scheme and has confirmed that several meetings have taken place involving various key stakeholders to discuss the aims, objectives and logistics of the service.

A recommendation for an independent expert determination scheme for rent reviews had first been made by the Trade and Industry committee four years ago.

BII chief executive Neil Robertson said: "It is clear from the feedback BII receives that rent is a sensitive yet key issue for its 15,000 members so it is imperative that these discussions happen with integrity and professionalism.

"BII will continue to work hard to bring all parts of the industry together for our common purpose."

But the BII hit back at the report's statement that licensees felt the body failed to reflect their interests.

"There is a statement in the report that 'lessees have very little confidence in either the BBPA or BII'. We are disappointed that such a sweeping remark has been made in such a widely published report as it appears to be based only on the opinions of a few.

"It is worth noting that BII membership is holding up through 2009 showing that licensees value the support of their professional body now more than ever."