Stemar
Well-known member
Ask your daughter for an eviction notice, then your boat is your only home
This, of course, may come as a relief to both parties...
This, of course, may come as a relief to both parties...
I am sorry V1701 you forgot to mention, don't forget to sell, bequeath or otherwise dispose of any other property you own so that the boat is your only residence.
I got caught, I live on the boat over a long weekend and sofa surf with my daughter during the week as it is nearer my work. Now I am locked out of my boat with only a bag of clothes. Maybe I should just retire.
This would depend on the business involved, most businesses have cash reserves or funding in place , its called profit , that tends to make its way to share holders rich owners , or the board , there is rates relief, staff in marinas and yards can be up to 20 employees, this working from home . doing what , watching my boat as the thief's have a field day, on the web cam (yes I have already lost 2500 outboard with full staff .MDL have not made the decision in isolation or in absence of government guidance. The restrictions have closed all caravan and holiday parks: the BMF consulted with the government on the topic and were advised that marinas should follow the same rules as caravan parks. Therefore most marinas are closed except for a small number of liveaboards, which are permitted under the general exemption for individuals who have nowhere else to go.
As to the offering of refunds, I’ll repeat here what I said in another thread. I’m a director of a holiday village. Our wages bill is only 20% or so of our expenditure. The remaining spend is virtually all on fixed costs: we might save a bit on our waste disposal contact but that’s about it. Of our staff, the office staff are working from home, one groundsman is working his normal 3 days a week and we’ve furloughed a full time groundsman, so our total saving is 80% of one manual worker. We have no debts to service so that’s not a factor.
It doesn’t take much to see that there’s not much leeway to be offering discounts or rebates to our cottage owners. I‘d expect that most marinas are going to be in a similar situation but with the additional costs involved in covering any financing arrangements, so there’s really not much scope in there for significant rebates or discounts.
Some rather unsubtle messages from MDL on Facebook book this morning with a collection of photos of police vehicles in their marinas enforcing 'lockdown'. Neither friendly, helpful nor necessary IMHO.
Some rather unsubtle messages from MDL on Facebook book this morning with a collection of photos of police vehicles in their marinas enforcing 'lockdown'. Neither friendly, helpful nor necessary IMHO.
Some rather unsubtle messages from MDL on Facebook book this morning with a collection of photos of police vehicles in their marinas enforcing 'lockdown'. Neither friendly, helpful nor necessary IMHO.
This link may help you., have a read of the National Police advice and make your own mind up.
https://www.college.police.uk/What-..._8O0VAZPOyP_TuSeaD6Cv6UU43ZtE6usQBHCnpdr-lQCs
A great letter and good service well done for that , makes sense for the business also to see how the lock down lasts and the benefits from the government then they can assess the needs of their customers ..Just received this email from MDL:
"RE: COVID-19 Update from MDL Marinas
I hope that this letter finds you and your family well. As we enter the fourth week of the Government’s statutory restrictions and having spoken to many of you either personally or via one of our dedicated team in recent weeks, I wanted to write to you as our valued berth holders with an update on our management of the restrictions across the various elements of our business, and how we might be able to go further to help you in the coming weeks.
Before I do that, a personal thank you from me for those that have followed the restrictions by staying at home. We have received regular visits in recent weeks by the Police, Border Force and Harbour Authorities, and I am encouraged to hear the stories of support by both them and you as berth holders and residents.
We, like you, found it especially challenging over the Easter weekend to see the sun shining and calm seas but not be able to go boating. By staying at home, you helped our core team onsite each day to continue carrying out their work and protecting your precious asset, while observing social distancing and keeping themselves safe.
MDL is a family owned business and we have been trading for over 45 years. Never before have we entered a summer period of such uncertainty. As well as berthing your boats and guarding them, the services we provide to you as our leisure users, lie too at the heart of our business: lifting boats; providing fuel; welcoming visiting and casual berth customers and parking cars. Turnover from this has fallen to almost zero since lockdown. In common with many other businesses, we have had to place some of our valuable and experienced team members into the Government’s job retention scheme because there is no work for them to do.
Some of you have asked how we are supporting our onsite businesses, some of whom continue to trade, and some who cannot. We have over 500 large and small commercial tenants across the MDL estate, many of whom are vital to providing you with great services for your boats. Please watch out for our various tenant focussed marketing campaigns and know that we are doing what we can as landlord, in line with leases, to support their cash flow where possible.
Whilst my team are onsite safeguarding your boats 24 hours a day, responding to queries and concerns, taking videos and pictures and getting the marinas ready for re-opening, we recognise that you are unable to use some of our services because of the Government restrictions. Some of you have told us about operators offering 50% off April’s berthing fees for some of their customers, a discount for them held against future services on their account. Some of you have asked individually about any support we can give as you are facing income challenges yourself.
Like all businesses and many of you personally, we await the outcome of Government support, full assistance with rates that has not yet been forthcoming and the job retention scheme is not yet open for applications.
For many of you, April was the start of your berthing season, a new contract year perhaps at a new MDL marina. I want to continue to invest in our marinas, keep our fantastic team employed and be able to provide the comprehensive range of services and benefits that we do today in the future. That is why right now, just 15 days into the season and 15 days into the berthing contract for some, is not the right time to add additional credits on account that you cannot use, or make a gesture now that reduces the enjoyment of our services you might have when the doors open again.
Therefore, I ask that you rest assured of two things: firstly, if you are facing significant difficulties paying your berthing fees and need individual guidance about berthing product options tailored to you and your circumstances, please contact our Sales and Marketing Director, Tim Mayer, on t.mayer@mdlmarinas.co.uk. Tim will call you at a time convenient for you to discuss how we might be able to help.
Second and most importantly, we recognise the importance of our customers and their loyalty. Whilst we must maintain our ability to pay staff, pay our banks and trade as well as we can, you are part of the lifeblood of our organisation. With that in mind, we are very much aware of the need to support our customers whilst ensuring that we remain in business for the long term. As soon as the picture becomes clear, we hope to be able to reward your loyalty. How, in what format and when, will only become clear once we know how long the Government restrictions will go on - an unknown for all of us at this time.
Please do keep talking to us directly; if you would like to hear more from us please email, I know some of you have found it frustrating if our responses are not always immediate, but rest assured, my team are working 24 hours to respond to you and will get to your queries as soon as they can.
I wish you a safe and healthy few weeks ahead, thank you again for your ongoing support and promise that I will update you again in the not too distant future.
With best wishes
Michael Glanville
Managing Director"
The last paragraphs seem to show something will be offered to berth holders.
In MDL's latest Facebook PR triumph they've spammed all their accounts with pictures of their staff " out checkingLines, Fenders, Electrics and Covers every day". The same photos for every marina and some of the staff pictured left several years ago. Well done MDL, yet again you're taking your clients for mug.
Unfortunately someone will be along soon to defend them in the YBW ‘I bought this boat’ or ‘use this marina’ so it must be best etc way.