GSAIR 2023 : EMEA 22
Licensing and compliance
The regulatory framework for serviced apartments across EMEA is highly fragmented . To contrast the current landscape across the region , Deborah Heather examines the UK government ’ s proposed introduction of serviced accommodation licensing despite the presence of several accreditation schemes for serviced apartments , Stephen Martin sheds some light on compliance in mainland Europe , Adam Kane- Smith considers the main African markets which have a mature set of standards for the industry and Ozge Ozturk discusses the commonality and points of divergence in standards across the GCC .
Deborah Heather
Along with the entire UK hospitality industry , the accommodation sector is waiting for the results of various consultations on registration or licensing .
Scotland ’ s licensing legislation is currently being reviewed , whilst the Welsh government are predicted to deliver a mix between Scotland ’ s sledgehammer and England ’ s expected light touch version .
Given existing legislation , legitimate , professional operators in England should have nothing to fear . Despite long-standing issues with bad actors operating without public liability insurance , or the right Health and Safety checks , anyone operating responsibly wants to protect their guests as much as possible .
In the eyes of the law , it ’ s a case of mitigating risk . There ’ s the added benefit that this is what consumers , business travellers and those that procure accommodation on behalf of others , want .
Operators who don ’ t recognise their responsibilities can be managed out or made to conform by ensuring suitable checks and balances are in place . Registration is a simple education process for those with their heads in the sand , ensuring they are aware of their legal responsibilities .
Each of the devolved governments are trying to manage housing issues . In Scotland , the infrastructure of long term lets was nearly crippled by changing legislation to favour tenants which has since impacted short lets too .
Wales is looking to solve its second home problem but failing to understand that second homes operating commercially bring year round revenues , helping communities to exist . In England , where levelling-up and registration consultations are running concurrently , the risk is that consultation recommends using planning permission to solve housing issues , and that England also has a licensing system rather than a simple registration system .
The Channel Islands and Isle of Man successfully operate different versions of licensing . In the Isle of Man , the OTA ’ s and Airbnb have never been a threat to housing , communities , or legitimate business operators , as it ’ s manageable through already robust systems . The legacy licencing has always included appropriate planning permission and fire and health and safety checks for all accommodation providers .
For me , registration should not be a problem for professional or responsible operators , as it helps withdraw the bad actors from the market . The real issue is over complex , one-size-fits-all legislation , designed to solve housing issues rather than support business tourism and the communities it supports .
Stephen Martin
Following the release of ISO 31030 ( Travel Risk Management ) in September 2021 , we have seen increasing demand for serviced accommodation to obtain a safety-based accreditation .
Across EMEA region , we deliver our Compliance Accreditation ( health & safety centred ) to clients in 19 countries , encountering varying national standards .
Our Compliance “ global standard ” cannot be applied verbatim in all countries , but the content and level of verifications required for each accreditation module can be achieved by approaching each one from the perspective of what needs to be verified . For example , a Fire Risk Assessment ( FRA ); widely recognised and understood in the UK , but not necessarily a system used in other countries . There are other mechanisms by which the output of a FRA can be verified , from annual inspections by the fire department to a governmentally applied license ( incorporating fire safety assessments ), renewable annually .