Judi Ablett of the Garibaldi in Burnham is currently paying £42,524 in rent, which surveyor David Morgan of Morgan & Clarke believes should be £17,500.
The GMB believes the high rent is unfair given that Ablett, who has been at the pub for five years, has faced continual problems with electricity and gas safety, as well as exposure to asbestos.
Ablett has had issues with hot water in her kitchen and a leaking ceiling in the bar. Her gas boiler was condemned shortly after the start of her agreement. She also discovered that the electrical system was so inadequate that she had to close for five weeks while remedial work was carried out.
It is also alleged that Star has failed to respond to in excess of a dozen emails regarding health and safety matters.
“All we have done is come here to run a business,” Ablett said. “They say BDMs (business development managers) are there to help you, but they are not. It’s been an extremely emotional experience. It feels like Star want to trip you up on any small part of the lease.”
In a letter to Star, Dave Mountford, GMB branch secretary, wrote: “[There have been] issues on-going for the last five years. Now that her rent review has arrived your company has conveniently ignored the fact that Judi has never had the opportunity to operate her business with a premises ‘fit for purpose’.”
A spokeswoman for Star confirmed that it was undertaking repair works at the pub, and that rent-review negotiations were due to go to arbitration even though Star offered a reduction.
She added: “Any repair with a health & safety risk is always prioritised. This is the case with the Garibaldi in Burnham and all works are now complete, including upgrading of the boiler, which did not present a health & safety risk, and reconnection of fire alarms, which were temporarily disconnected while ceiling works were undertaken.
“At no time were staff or customers at risk and the building is 100% compliant as it holds up-to-date gas, electrical and
asbestos certificates.”