Council proposes handing hotel portfolio to agent

Dorset Council inherited 60 hotels and guesthouses from the former borough council

Rent increases could be on the horizon for dozens of council-owned seaside hotels under plans that would also see their management handed to an external agent.

Dorset Council owns 60 hotels and guesthouses in Weymouth but said leaseholders had complained about the level of service.

The authority said an agent would manage the properties and give tenants a single point of contact, ensuring a consistent approach to repairs and maintenance.

It said regular rent reviews would also be re-introduced but a final decision on any changes would not be made for "several months".

Dorset Council inherited the properties from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council when it was abolished in 2019.

Opposition councillors previously warned rent hikes could put hotels out of business

It said most leases were granted by the borough council in the 2000s and the individual terms varied considerably.

Proposals include the reinstatement of regular rent reviews, which have not been carried out since 2019.

Reviews would be negotiated on an individual basis and could include phasing in any rent rises, which will be based on local market data.

Property and assets councillor Richard Biggs said: "We recognise how important our hotels and the Georgian seafront is to Weymouth and the visitor economy and that the service they have received from us has not been of the highest standard.

"This proposal aims to correct this situation.

"We also have a responsibility to consider the long-term future of council-owned properties and how we can get the best value for the residents of Dorset."

Opposition councillors had previously warned against rent hikes, claiming they would put many hotels out of business.