BIIBAS resolves 30 pub lease code breaches

Between 30 and 40 major breaches of pubco lease codes of practice have been resolved through the BII-led accreditation scheme BIIBAS.

That's according to BIIBAS chief executive Neil Robertson, who said the "vast majority" of breaches had been resolved through the service.

He was talking to the Morning Advertiser as pubcos prepare to update their codes following the release of the British Beer & Pub Association's Framework Code of Practice.

Robertson said that if major breaches were reported, BIIBAS would make recommendations to the pubco and tenant. "In most cases that was followed," he said. "We have significantly increased the amount of time and energy given to investigate code-of-practice complaints and achieved a number of resolutions, which I can't detail."

No pub operator has had its accreditation withdrawn by BIIBAS and last year Robertson announced plans to give more teeth to the scheme.

This included annual re-accreditations and publishing quarterly reports on how well landlords have performed against their code.

Robertson said the details were still being worked out, but confirmed that an appeals process for pubcos would be added to the strengthened scheme.

He denied reports that this came about on request of a pubco after it was found to have breached its code.

"Everything BII does has an appeal process. We didn't have one before [through BIIBAS] because it was less formal. It's a measure that this is a more formal scheme now."

He said that details of the appeals process, including who pubcos could appeal to, were still being discussed.

Other areas likely to be under discussion by BIIBAS include how many breaches would be needed before a pubco's accreditation was withdrawn. It could be a set number or a designated proportion of the estate.