Moves to cut beach chalet waiting list
A novel plan to share out Brighton & Hove’s limited supply of beach chalets is being considered by the council.
It would mean 100 existing brick-built chalets being offered for limited periods, instead of being rented indefinitely by individuals.
The council is stressing the scheme would not affect Hove’s wooden beach huts which are owner-occupied and can be bought and sold on the open market.
A council report says the move would address the current situation where over 100 people are languishing on a waiting list – some for over 10 years. At the same time, says the report, the council gets regular complaints that many chalets appear unused, even in the height of summer.
Officials are suggesting chalets could be offered with leases for a maximum period of five years. Anyone who has held a lease for over five years may keep it for a further two years. People holding a lease for under five years may keep it until that period elapses.
A decision is expected at one of the regular meetings led by cabinet councillor for culture David Smith, on December 7.
It is also proposed that rents would go up by 10 per cent. Officials say prices would be comparable to those in other resorts yet earn the authority an extra £50,000.
Current prices range from over £700 a year for chalets with water and electricity to about £400 for basic chalets in less favoured positions.
There are groups of brick-built chalets in Hove, Madeira Drive, Ovingdean, Rottingdean and Saltdean.
Waiting lists would be closed to non-residents – they presently include a handful from outside the city.
Once a tenancy expires the person would be able to return to the bottom of the waiting list.
Cllr 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.”
