Legislation and Trading Standards
The Pink Book Online – Legislation for Tourist Accommodation
This is a very comprehensive document published online and in book form by Visit England The Pink Book Online It provides details on all legislation relevant to accommodation providers in England and is probably a worthwhile investment at £9.99.
The main areas the Pink Book covers relevant to self-catering accommodation are:
Health and Safety
- Health and Safety at Work act including risk assessments
- Fire, gas and electrical safety
- Electrical applicance testing
- Product safety
- Bunk Bed regulation
- British standards for items such as cots, high chairs, playpens etc
Licences and consents
- Planning permission
- Private water supplies
- TV Licensing
Discrimination
Under the Equality Act 2010, people who access your goods, facilities or services are protected from direct discrimination on the basis of:
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race – including ethnic or national origins, colour and nationality
- Religion or belief
- Sex and sexual orientation
See what this means for your business by accessing the quick guide to the act from the link here.
Records
All self-catering premises should keep a record of all guests over the age of 16 including their full name and nationality.
Consumer Protection Act
Self-catering businesses have a general duty not to undertake unfair trading practices particularly in relation to marketing and pricing