BII: fairer rents would help solve tie debate

The beer tie issue would take on "less significance" if rents were fairer according to members of the BII.

The view is expressed in a letter by chief executive Neil Robertson to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in response to CAMRA's super complaint which attacked high rents and beer prices charged by pubcos.

Robertson states: "During the past few months I have been hosting members' forums around the country to gauge members' views on a number of issues. One of these has been the tied model.

"There is clearly concern amongst the majority of members I have spoken to regarding the tie and there is a need for the industry to come together to determine ways to improve the way the tie and tenanted/leased model is implemented.

"Members point to the fact that often the perceived issue is high rents which do not reflect changing trading conditions. If rents were deemed to be fairer, the issue of the tie would take on less significance."

However, Robertson goes on to argue that the industry should be left to sort the issues out itself rather than the government intervening.

He said: "BII feels it is better for the industry to resolve such issues and BII will support such debate."

The submission also outlines various projects the BII has been working on since the publication of the Business & Enterprise Committee report, which was highly critical of the industry.

Initiatives include reviewing and strengthening its Benchmarking and Accreditation Scheme, which aims to offer clarity over pubcos' codes of practice.

The submission also refers to a new qualification the BII is working on for people taking on a lease or tenancy for the first time and the Pub Independent Rent Review Scheme (PIRRS) which has been set up help settle rent disputes between tenants and landlords.