Julian is welcoming plans for a new statutory code which will give pub landlords running pubs tied to pub companies new rights to help them get a fair deal.
The rules will be enforced by a new, independent adjudicator with the power to punish pub companies that break them.
Tied tenants usually have to pay a higher price for beer from the beer company they rent from and are unable to buy from other suppliers. These higher costs should be balanced out by reduced rent or other costs charged by the pub companies. However, Julian has heard from landlords across Skipton and Ripon that this has not always been the case.
The new rules aim to address that and will mean:
• Landlords will be able to request a rent review from pub companies if it has been five years or more since the last one.
• Landlords will be given the right to review the information used by pub companies to justify any rent increase.
• Landlords tied to pub companies with 500 or more tied pubs will be able to request an additional rent assessment to show if they are worse off than pubs with no tie.
• Pubs will have the right to decide if they are tied for gaming machines as well.
Julian said:
“I am delighted that action is being taken to support tied pubs across Skipton and Ripon giving pub landlords peace of mind they’ll be able to get a fair deal on their rent.
“Pubs are an important part of life in this constituency and I have been working hard to stand up for them, and the entire brewing industry. We must do all we can to ensure they remain at the heart of our communities and create jobs.
“It is extremely positive that the Conservatives in Government are now standing up for them and taking measures to address the challenges they face.”