Beach hut owners applauded as councillors agreed unanimously that they will be included in future discussions about licences.
Back in June the beach hut owners fought off Brighton and Hove City Council’s plans to increase the transfer fee, when huts are sold, which had been agreed in January.
Now the council will carry out a consultation over the next few months with the owners of the 459 huts as it wants to modernise the existing owner’s licence.
It wants to find a way to increase the transfer fee in the future and add clauses to prevent sub-letting.
The council also hopes to improve communication with beach hut owners – a goal potentially made easier with the formation of the Hove Beach Hut Owners’ Association last Friday (21 September).
Councillor Robert Nemeth, who represents Wish ward, which has several beach huts, championed their cause.
At the council’s Tourism, Development and Culture Committee meeting today (Thursday 27 September), Councillor Nemeth said: “I hope it will evolve into a group that operates like the allotment federation.
“It will therefore help the council.”
Licences are similar to ground rent and paid annually.
In the current agreement, hut owners are required to pay their rent and keep the huts in a good state of repair and well decorated.
They are not permitted to sell huts to people from outside Brighton and Hove, sleep in them or trade from them or play amplified music.
Councillor Nemeth said: “I think that much greater clarity is required on what constitutes a transfer.
“Would the transfer from a deceased mother to a son trigger a transfer fee or the removal of one half of a couple during divorce? I would suggest not.”
He also described the one-month eviction rule as extremely unfair and wants it reviewed.
The current licence says that it may be terminated by the council by at least one month’s notice in writing.
Owners must clear the site at their own expense if evicted or the council will clear it and charge them.
The councillors unanimously agreed to not increase fees and to bring the consultation results back to a future committee.
Beach hut owners should be included in all discussions. They should also be compelled to fulfil the conditions of the lease and keep beach huts in good condition. There are some that are almost falling down (e.g. # 183) and many others in poor state of repair and decoration. BHCC Seaside officers pass them every day, turn a blind eye, and nothing is done to make the owners bring them up to scratch. A few irresponsible selfish, neglectful beach hut owners should not be allowed to ruin the visual amenity of the promenade. Time to act BHCC.
I was glad to give some advice on Thursday afternoon. The Beach Huts are a joy, not only for those who sit outside them but for strollers. (I think there are rather more than “several” Huts in Wish ward.) Bizarrely, Paul Theroux sneered at them in his Eighties walk around the British coast (The Kingdom by the Sea): he did not grasp the part that such Huts played in pioneering the Slow movement. What could be better than borrowing a good book from the Carnegie Library, walking to a Hut to read it and looking up every so often to greet a passing dog? A glass or two of wine could also find a part in this. On my way back from a Lagoon volunteers event at nine last night, I had a good talk with a couple still outside their one with a dog whom they had rescued. We cannot allow bureaucrats to play fast and loose with the spirit of Hove (as they keep trying to do with our Library).
Rich beach hut owners should pay more and should go towards council houses in poor areas like mileoak and portslade
You do not know what you are talking about. They are normal people who have worked hard and pay their taxes. It’s not like they run around in million dollar cars or live in mansions. They are families, men, women who work hard for their lot.
As a potential buyer of a Beach hut for my retireyoresebt to myself (I’ve waited since I was a child to be able to do this….) I’m very pleased about this news. I agree the huts shouldn’t be run as businesses, too many can be seen advertised for Hen parties and such like or rented out by the day to large groups. I’ve also seen an advert by a childminder including the beach hut as part of their services …. I wouldn’t want to buy a hut next to that one …. no quiet days reading there I guess. Anyway I’m looking for a hut numbered 90-150 if anyone is selling one. Thank you 😊
This is a wonderful result for Beach Hut Owners, to be consulted on matters which affect them.