Beach huts in Brighton and Hove may be leased for limited periods in future instead of rented indefinitely.
The proposal affects 100 brick beach huts in Hove, Madeira Drive, Ovingdean, Rottingdean and Saltdean.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that the scheme would not affect the wooden beach huts in Hove which are owner-occupied and can be bought and sold on the open market.
A report on the proposal is aimed at addressing a waiting list of more than 100 people, some of whom have been waiting for more than ten years.
The council said that it received regular complaints that some of the huts appeared to be unused, even in the height of summer.
The report suggests that the beach huts could be offered with leases for a maximum period of five years.
Anyone who has held a lease for more than five years could keep it for a further two years.
People holding a lease for under five years would be allowed to keep it until that period elapsed.
A decision is expected at one of the regular meetings led by the council’s cabinet member for culture Councillor David Smith on Tuesday 7 December.
It is also proposed that rents would go up by 10 per cent.
Officials said that prices would be comparable with those in other resorts yet earn the council an extra £50,000.
Current prices range from more than £700 a year for beach huts with water and electricity to about £400 for basic chalets in less favoured positions.
Waiting lists would be closed to non-residents – they presently include a handful from outside the city.
Once a tenancy expired, the person would be able to return to the bottom of the waiting list.
Councillor Smith said: “These are publicly owned assets so it seems unfair to have residents effectively permanently excluded from them in a queue which never moves.
“It could be that charging more would make people more committed to using them or giving them up if they don’t.”
I think this is a fair policy to pursue.
i think it is not a fair policy — no consultation, no evidence to base the “fair” policy — words fail me that Valerie Paynter should swallow what Cllr Smith has spouted —
Comment from a tenant:
item 42 is a typical composite motion — the 10% rent hike is bad enough but to wrap it up with an eviction notice is the worst Christmas present of the year —
Great I would love to hire a beach hut but can’t even get on the list! I live in Brighton and walk past them daily but due to the unfair system that is currently in place there is no hope of ever having one.
Well done Brighton and Hove council
What a happened about this? I can’t seem to find a current waiting list.