BII: life will be much better for tenants
BII boss Neil Robertson believes that life will be much better for new and existing pub tenants as a result of the new code of practice for pubcos.
The BII has come in for criticism from anti-beer tie groups, following its decision to support the British Beer and Pub Association's (BBPA) new Framework Code of Practice on the Granting of Tenancies and Leases.
The new code will be obligatory for all BBPA members from 1 January 2010 and aims to improve transparency, enhance the standard of Business Development Managers, remove the AWP machine income from rent calculations and abolish upward-only rent reviews.
The BII is also supporting the aims of the Independent Pub Confederation where it can, although it is not a signed up member of the group.
"Some have said we shouldn't have signed (the BBPA code) because it dignified an otherwise thin statement," Robertson told BII members via the website buyingapub.com.
"Well, I can understand that but we must stand up for what is, or could be, good, and undoubtedly the BBPA commitments will make life much better for new entrants as well as improving the rent review position for existing lessees.
"We will hold BBPA members to this commitment through a new website which will make visible pubcos performance against their new codes. This will help prospective lessees make an informed choice about who to take a lease from.
"Others have said the BBPA commitment is merely good practice that should be happening anyway. Again, I can understand that, but the reality is it is not happening now and probably would not happen systematically unless captured in an agreement. So the agreement is worth having."
Robertson added that the question of the beer tie was not for the BII to pursue but it did welcome the Royal Institution of Charetered Surveyors report on making the rent-setting process more transparent.
Roberston added: "Meanwhile we will energetically pursue code of practice breaches, but in a more visible way (we've been doing it invisibly for a while)."
