Sectoral Survey intoSelf-Caterer Access to Covid-19

Business Support

Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

Supporting self-catering in Scotland

Week 3

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ASSCSECTORALSURVEYINTOSELF-CATERERACCESSTOCOVID-19BUSINESSSUPPORTIntroduction• TheAssociationofScotland’sSelf-Caterers(ASSC)istheleadingsourceofknowledgeonshort-term

lettingandholidayhomesinScotland.TheASSCconductedaScotland-widesectoralsurveyrelatingtoissuesconcerningeligibilityandaccesstothevariouspackagesofeconomicsupportfromtheScottishandUKGovernmentsinresponsetotheCOVID-19pandemic.

• Theonlinesurveyelicited629responsesfromself-caterersinScotland,frombothASSCmembersandnon-ASSCmembersalike,in31/32ofScotland’slocalauthorities.

• TheresultsoffervaluableinsightsintotheexperiencesandproblemsfacedbyScottishself-cateringoperatorsinaccessingthesupportrequiredtosafeguardtheirbusinessinasectorthathasbeenestimatedtocontributeover£723meachyeartotheScottisheconomy.

SurveyOverview• TheASSCranathirdroundoftheironlinesurveyconsistingof18questions.Thiswaspublicisedvia

ASSCnewsletters,aswellasontheASSC’ssocialmediapagesonTwitterandFacebook.• In24hours,thesurveygenerated629responses.260werefrommembersoftheASSCand369

responseswerefromnon-members.

SummaryItishopedthatthesurveyresultswillcontinuetoinformdiscussionregardingthesupportrequiredforself-cateringoperatorsinScotlandtoensurethatnosectorisleftbehindbygovernment,aswellaswhatchangesarenecessarytoprotectlivelihoodsinwhathasbeenakeycomponentpartofScotland’stourismofferingforageneration.Someofthekeyfindingsinclude:• Althoughthereissomemovementintermsofgrantapplicationsbeingapproved,self-caterersfrom

acrossScotlandarestillexperiencingdifficultiesinaccessingbusinesssupportgrantsfromtheScottishGovernmentthatarebeingadministeredbylocalauthorities.

• 80%ofself-caterersareruralorsemi-rural.

• 61%ofrespondentshaveoperatedforover6years.

• 67%arepessimisticorverypessimisticabouttheirbusinessesinlightofCovid-19.

• Whenaskedabouttheirmentalhealth,5%ofrespondentsareexperiencingnewsymptoms,28%areexperiencingmildanxiety/depressionsymptomsand10%are‘notsurewhattheiremotionalstateis’.

• 187respondents(orapproximately37%ofthetotal)havehadtheirapplicationforabusiness

supportapprovedbyalocalauthority.

• 248(49%)havestillgotapplicationsoutstanding.

• 22respondents(4%)havehadtheirapplicationsrejected,includinginthefollowingcouncils:Dumfries&Galloway,Argyll&Bute,EileanSiarandPerth.

• Itisstillnotclearonwhatevidencewillbeacceptedandwhatwillnotbe.Theguidanceisbeing

interpreteddifferentlybyrespondents,localauthoritiesandalsoaccountants.Manydonotfeelthattheywillbeeligibleastheycannotevidenceonethirdormoreofearningsor140nightsoccupancy,butnonethelessitrepresentsasignificantpartofoverallincome.

• Concernsremainthatsomelocalauthoritiesarenotprocessingapplicationsfromself-catering

accommodationuntilfurtherguidancehasbeenprovidedfromtheScottishGovernment.

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Q1WHEREISYOURBUSINESSBASED?LocalAuthority Numberof

RespondentsAberdeenCity 1Aberdeenshire 25Angus 7Argyll&Bute 79Clackmannanshire 3Dumfries&Galloway 31DundeeCity 3EastAyrshire 1EastDunbartonshire 2EastLothian 4EastRenfrewshire 0EdinburghCity 57EileanSiar 35Falkirk 2Fife 32GlasgowCity 5

LocalAuthority NumberofRespondents

Highland 163Inverclyde 0Midlothian 2Moray 18NorthAyrshire 24NorthLanarkshire 1Orkney 11Perth&Kinross 49Renfrewshire 1ScottishBorders 26Shetland 2SouthAyrshire 8SouthLanarkshire 9Stirling 26WestDunbartonshire 2WestLothian 5

*SomerespondentshavepropertiesacrossarangeoflocalauthorityareasQ2Howwouldyoudescribethelocationofyourproperty/properties?Thevastmajorityofrespondentsarefromruralareas.Urban 104 16.53%Suburban 18 2.86%Semi-Rural 109 17.33%Rural 398 63.28%

Manyofthelocalauthoritieswiththemajorityofrespondentsalsohaveislandcommunities.TheIslands(Scotland)ActrequireslocalauthoritiesandtheScottishGovernmentto‘islandproof’anylegislationorpolicydecisionaffectingScotland’sislandcommunities.UndertheAct,anislandcommunitiesimpactassessmentshouldbepreparedwhenaneworrevisedpolicy,strategyorserviceislikelytohaveasignificantlydifferenteffectonislandcommunities.Manyoftheseislandcommunitiesaretheveryoneswhoarebeingdisadvantagedbytheeligibilitycriteriaforself-cateringgrantsastheyarelesslikelytobeabletoevidence140nightsoccupancy.Q3Pleasetellushowlongyourself-cateringbusinesshasbeenrunning?Over60%ofrespondentshavebeenoperatingforover6years,with83%operatingformorethan3years.Under1 39 6.20%1–2years 70 11.13%3–5years 134 21.46%6–10years 145 23.05%11–20years 142 22.58%21–39years 81 12.88%40plusyears 17 2.70%

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Q4Whoareyourbusinessoperationsprimarilyrunby:Thesurveyindicatesthatthemajorityofself-cateringbusinessesarerunbyeitherpartnershipsorfemales.Thisisconducivewithfemalesbeingabletofittheoperationoftheirbusinessaroundchild-careandotherresponsibilities.ThedifferentiationappliedtotheScottishself-cateringsectorwillhaveadisproportionateimpactonwomen.Male 74 11.76%Female 254 40.38%50/50Partnership 291 46.26%Other 10 1.59%Otherresponsesincludedthree-waypartnerships,70/30female/male,wholebusiness50/50butself-cateringelementfemale.Q5 HaveyouappliedforaCovid-19Grant?Yes£10,000grant 415 65.98%Yes£25,000grant 14 2.23%YesIhaveappliedforvariousgrantsqualifyingunderdifferentbusinessnames 12 1.91%No,notyet,butIwillbeapplying 40 6.36%No,Idonotqualify 95 15.10%Iamnotsure-IamconfusedabouttheeligibilitycriteriaandwhetherIwillbeabletoqualifyforagrant 47 7.47%Other 6 0.95%

CaseStudy“Weappliedfor2x£10kgrants,oneforourtouringcampsiteandonefor1ofour6self-cateringholidaycottages(3ofwhicharerateable).Wesincerelyhopetobeabletoapplyfor2further75%of£10kgrantsforouradditional2rateableproperties,however,ifwewerelocatedinEngland,wewouldhavequalifiedfor4x£25kgrants-£100kwouldhavesavedus,£20-£35kmaynot.Also,inWales,theycanapplyforgrantsoncounciltaxproperties,sowecouldhavequalifiedforanadditionalgrantonourcounciltaxself-cateringpropertiestoo.Scotlandisasusual,thepoorforgottensecondratecitizenasfarasWestminsterisconcerned.Inacrisissituation,thesupportofferedshouldbeexactlythesameforeveryoneacrosstheUK,regardlessofpostcode”.Argyll&Bute

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Q6Ifyoudon’tthinkyouqualifyforthegrantscheme,why?Mybusinessisoperatedfromapropertythatdoesnothavearateablevalue(Ipaycounciltax) 57 13.44% Icannotevidenceoccupancyofover140nights 48 11.32% cannotevidencethatreceiptsrepresentaprimarysource(forexampleonethirdormore)ofearnings 85 20.05% Other 309 72.88% Oursurveyidentifiedthatitisstillnotclearonwhatevidencewillbeacceptedandwhatwillnotbe.Theguidanceisbeinginterpreteddifferentlybyrespondents,localauthoritiesandalsoaccountants.Manydonotfeelthattheywillbeeligibleastheycannotevidenceonethirdormoreofearningsor140nightsoccupancy,butnonethelessitrepresentsasignificantpartofoverallincome.• Respondentsfeltthattheywouldstruggletoevidenceoccupancyofover140nightsinthefinancial

year2019-20,duetounexpectedcancellations• Reaching140nightsoccupancyappearstobeimpossibleinsomeruralareas:Banffshire,Sutherland,

Islands• Respondentsfeltthattheyhadtocompleteendofyeartaxreturnspriortosubmittinganapplication

toassessthattheymeetthecriteria• Myincomefromself-cateringonlyrepresents27%,soIdon’tthinkIameligible• Someaccountantsadvisethatasitisnottheir‘primaryincome’,theydonotqualify• Rateablevalueofover£51,000• Iwasnotregisteredforsmallbusinessbonusschemeon17thMarch

Q7Whenwasthedateofyourgrantapplication?22-28March 57 12.15% 29March–4April 172 36.67% 5–11April 120 25.59%12–18April 47 10.02%19–25April 28 5.97%

CaseStudy“ReceiptsdonotaccountforonethirdofmyincomesoIdonotqualify.TheScottishGovernmentappearfixatedaboutthefactholidayhomeownersaregoingtogetthegrantwhentheyaren'treallyoperatingabusiness.Mypropertyisprofessionallyadvertisedthroughaverylargebookingagency,wasbuiltspecificallytobeaholidayrentalproperty,hasbeenoperatingfor15yearsassuchandformanyyearspriortothatbeforeIboughtit,iteasilyqualifiesforthe140daysplusrentedoutwhichcanbeclearlyevidenced.ItisinsuredasaholidayletandIpaybusinesstariffsforwaterandamregisteredwiththecouncilforcommercialrates(andgetsmallbusinessrelief).IpaytaxtoHMRCasafurnishedholidaylet,qualifyontheirdaysrentedoutperyeartodosoandhavedoneformanyyears.Ihavelostmanyweeksworthofbookingscancelledandindeedtobecancelled.Ioperateinaverydisadvantagedruralareaandtheincomemypropertybringstotheverysmallvillageeachyearmusthelpthearea.TobedisallowedonthebasisIamconsiderednottobeaproperbusinessandampotentiallyaprivateholidayhomeownertryingtotakeadvantageofthesystemislaughable,IcaneasilyprovethisisaproperbusinesssowhyonEartharewebeingtreatedinacompletelydifferentwaytotherestoftheUK.Iwouldcertainlybehappytoarguethatfactatanyappealbut,onthefaceofit,thefactisitdoesn'tmakeupmorethanathirdofmyincome”.DumfriesandGalloway

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Q8Whatisthecurrentstatusofyourgrantapplicationwithyourlocalauthority?Approved 187 39.96%ApplicationAcknowledged-writtenresponse 50 9.88%ApplicationAcknowledged-automatedresponse 93 18.38%Ihavehadtochaseforupdate 27 5.34%ApplicationRejected 22 4.35%Idonotbelievemylocalauthorityisprocessingself-cateringgrantsatthemoment 13 2.57%I’venotheardanything 59 11.66%DespitetryingIhavenotbeenabletomakecontactwithmylocalAuthority 6 1.19%Q9GrantApplicationScenarios-Tickanythatapplytoyou:Responsesillustratethewidevarietyofinterpretationsoftheeligibilitycriteriathatlocalauthoritiesaretaking.Whileonelocalauthoritywillrejectaratepayerwithtwobusinesses(Argyll&Bute),anotherwillprovidesupportperbusiness,notperratepayer,orindeedperpropertywithinabusiness.EdinburghCityrequiredself-assessmentfor2019/20demonstratingthatFHLis40%oftotalearningsandoccupancyofover200nights:totallyoutwiththeguidance.Ihavebeenaskedfor2019-2020Accounts 97 21.80%Ihavebeenadvisedthat2018-2019Accountsarenotacceptable 22 4.94%Ihavebeenaskedtosupplyproofof140nightsfor2019-2020bookings 227 51.01%Ihavebeenadvisedthatproofof140nightsfor2018-2019bookingsisnotacceptable 10 2.25%Ihavebeenaskedtosupplyjointorhouseholdincomeorearnings,eventhoughIamtheFHLOperator/Ratepayer 33 7.42% Ihavebeenaskedtosupplyacopyofmyliabilityinsurance 94 21.12%Ihavebeenaskedtosupplydetailsofweeklyrentalrates 23 5.17%IhavebeenaskedtoprovidethesameinformationthatIhavealreadysupplied 32 7.19%Ihavebeenaskedtosupplyadditionalinformation-Ifsowhathaveyoubeenaskedfor? 60 13.48%Myself-cateringbusinessprovidessignificantincomebutitisunderonethirdofearnings 44 9.89%Myself-cateringbusinessdoesnothaveproofof140nightsyearonyear 13 2.92%Ihaveanewbusinessandcannotprovidetheinformationrequested 18 4.04%Comments 230 51.69%Examples:“Wouldnotacceptmyapplicationbecauseitisalimitedcompany”“OnlydocumentrequestedwasanimageofarecentBankStatement”“Evidence:3monthsofbankstatements,bookinglists,grossincomefromcottages,allothergrossincome,numberofnightsbooked,ratenumberofallproperties,PublicLiabilityInsurance”“TheyhaveacceptedmyLiabilityInsurance”

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Iamabletoandhaveprovided1)self-assessmentfor2019/20demonstratingFHLis40%oftotalearnings2)occupancyofover200nights(EdinburghCity)

Q10Ifyourgrantapplicationhasbeenrejectedonwhatgrounds?Themajorityofthosebeingrejectedforagrantwasbecausetheycouldnotevidenceonethirdormoreofearnings–thesearemainlyinrurallocationsincludingShetland(3respondents)andOrkney.Otherscouldnotevidence140nightsormore.Manyhaveseasonalbusinessessofallshortofthethreshold,othersarenewbusinessesorduetocancelledbookingscannotevidencethenumbers.Manypeoplefeelthattheeligibilityshouldbethenumberofnightsthepropertyisavailableforbookingsnotactualbookingstaken.Additionallyotherswererejectedbecausetheyreceivedagrantforadifferentbusiness(notanadditionalself-cateringproperty)–theseareallbeingcontestedExamples:“LessThan1yeartrading,notsubmittedfirsttaxreturnyet.Cannotshow140nightsbooked”“Averageabout17weeksperyearthecottageisrentedout.”“Itookearlyretirementon15.3.20toconcentrateondevelopingthebusiness.Thereforehowmypersonalincomeismadeupwasmeanttochangesignificantlyjustasthelockdowncommenced.PrevioustothatIhadploughedalmostalltheincomefromthepropertiesintoupgradingtheminpreparationforthembecomingmymainsourceofincome,”Q11Roughlywhatpercentageofyou‘earnings’(totaltaxablenetincome,afterallowablecosts)doesself-cateringrepresent?62%(357respondents)self-cateringbusinessrepresentsover40%oftheirearnings.18%(101respondents)represents30-39%ofearnings20%(114respondents)fallUNDERtheGrantthresholdof1/3rdincomefromself-catering

CaseStudy“WhenIsubmittedthetwograntapplicationsforourtwoseparatebusinesses,Isubmittedalltheinformationaskedforincludinglistsofweeklybookingsfortheyearto5April2020,approvedfinancialaccountsfortheyearended5April2019andacopyofmyapprovedpersonalandbusinessincometaxreturnstogetherwithacopyofHMRC'sfinalSelfAssessmentTaxCalculationfortheyear2018/2019.Oneapplicationwassubmittedonlineon8Aprilandtheotheron9April.BothGrantpaymentsweremadetotheindividualbankaccountsonFriday24April!Iwasimpressed”Highland

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Q12OnyourAnnualTaxReturn–Doyouenteryourearningsformself-cateringonthepropertypagesofyourtaxreturn,asaFurnishedHolidayLet?60%(367respondents)saidtheydidenterearningsasFHL.Otherswhodon'tareeitherlimitedcompanies,orarenotsure.Examples:“I'veneverunderstoodwhyitis"rentalincome"ratherthanabusiness.Aswehaven'tletfor105daysyetforFHLstatusin19/20,andwecannotclaimperiodofgraceaswe'veonlybeinggoinglessthanayearamwaitingtoseewhataccountantadvises”

Q13Onascaleof1to10(where1ispoorand10isexcellent)howdoyouviewtheeligibilityCriteriaoftheSelf-CateringgrantschemeofferedbyScottishgovernment/yourlocalauthority?AverageScorefrom602respondents:3.9Q14Onascaleof1to10(where1ispoorand10isexcellent)howdoyouviewtheadministrationoftheself-cateringgrantschemeofferedbyScottishGovernment/yourlocalauthority?AverageScorefrom566respondents:3.9Q15Haveyouoranyoneinyourbusiness,sufferedfrommentalhealthissuessincethestartofCovid-19?ItisclearthattheCovid-19crisisishavinganimpactonrespondent’smentalhealth.Itisveryclearfromresponsesthattheuncertaintycausedbytheeligibilitycriteriaforself-cateringgrantsandfinancialsupportfromtheScottishGovernmenthasexacerbatedthestressonoperators.Experiencingnewsymptoms 31 5%Experiencingmildanxiety/depressionsymptoms 178 28%Notsurewhattheiremotionalstateis 66 10%

CaseStudy“Wepaytaxonourearningsandyetarenotbeinggivenhelplikeothersmallbusinessesthathaveabusinessratedstatus.TourismisvitaltotheScottisheconomy,asitistoourfamilyincome.Yetwearebeingforgotten.Ourbusinessisalsoseasonalsohelpisneedednow.Theover-ridingviewfrommyselfandfriendsinthesamesituationisthatevenwhenweareabletoreopen,itwilltakemuchlongerforconfidenceintraveltoreturn.WearemarketedthroughAirbnb&Booking.comand,despitecancellationpenaltiesint&c’sthereisbigpressureontheholidayaccommodationtowaivethis.Howdotheythinkwe’regoingtolive-onfreshairandlovelyscenery?Wecan’tfurloughourselves.We’renotclassifiedasself-employed.Therewillbehardshipforus.”Argyll&Bute

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Examples:“IntheinitialweeksIfeltutterlyterrifiedofboththevirusandthefinancialimplications.Irefusedtoleavethehouse,criedprettymuchconstantlyandonoccasionhadwhatIcanonlydescribeashystericalpanicattacks.IhavecalmedmyselfbylimitingthehoursIspendworkingnowandgetoutsideanddosomephysicalworkinthegardendaily,whichhashelpedimmensely.However,Ihaveaconstantfeelingofanxietyandimpendingdoom,whichisnotapleasantconstantstatetobein.Ithoughtitwouldeaseoncewehadreceivedthepayment,butithasn't,as£10kwon'tlastlong,sonowIamworriedthatthisistheonlyfinancialsupportthatwewillpotentiallyreceive,regardlessofhowlongourbusinessisunabletoearnduetolock-down/travelrestrictions.Ifthisisfor3monthsandwewillbeeligibletoapplyagain,thenIcouldbreathealittlemoreeasily,butifthisisaone-offpayment,westillriskgoingbankruptbeforethisisoverandquitefrankly,thatthoughtismorefrighteningthanthevirusrightnowandpreventsmefrombreathing,aswhatisthepointofsurvivingthisvirusifwecan'taffordtolive.(ifwewerelocatedinEngland,wewouldhavequalifiedfor£25k)”“Iamfeelingamixtureofangryandupset.primarilyduetotheinjusticeofasystemthatdiscriminatesScottishself-cateringbusinessesfromotherpartsoftheUKfornoclearorrationalreason.Iseeabsolutelynoreasonthatinincomequalificationisrelevantifitcanbeclearlyestablisheditisfullyoperatingandeconomicallyrunbusiness.ItistreatedasaproperbusinessbyHMRC,LocalCouncil,Insurancecompanyandserviceindustries,whyshouldanarbitraryincome%basedonawhimdeterminethatitisn'taproperbusinessandislikelytobejustaholidayhomecontrarytoproperevidence.Whatotherbusinessesaresubjecttothisrestriction??““Ithinkit’sveryimportanttostatethatasIrunthebusinessonmyownandIamsingle(44yearsofage),thishasunfortunatelyimpactedonthewell-beingofmyparentswhoareintheirlate70s.Theyareself-isolatingintheirownhome17milesaway,butIamdoingtheirshoppingandalthoughIhavetriednottoburdenthem,theyareawareofthestressthishasputonme,andhasthereforeputstressonthem.Thisisacombinationof:1.some(thankfullynotall!)guestsdemandingrefundsdespitetheT&Csbecause"it'snottheirfault",andnotacceptingtorescheduleoracreditvouchertotheendofnextyear(eventhoughI'mnotobligedto...),and2.notknowingifIamgoingtogetthegrant,madeworsebyknowingthatotherbusinessesinmyareahavereceivedthegrantwitheaseandIknowtheydon'tworkashardasIdoorpayasmuchincometax.”“Meandmypartnerareunderextremepressure&havenoclearideawhenwewillgetthelifelinesupportweneed.”“WeareextremelystressedbyitallandhavingtocontinuallychasetheCouncilreallydoesnothelp,Iworryaboutthefutureofourbusiness,givenwehaveinvestedsomuch.”“Feeltotallyconfused.MybusinessiscrumblinginfrontofmeandthereisnotathingIcando.Thiswastobemypensioninsteaditwillleadtoanearlygraveforme.Ifeelbetrayedanddestroyed.ThegallingissueisthatIamawareneighbouringpropertyowners(identicalunits)havereceivedgrantfunding!!”“Theanxietyismadeworsebynocommunicationatallfromthecouncilandtheabruptanswerwhenyouphonethattheyarebusy,andtheofficecannottakecalls.”“TheinitialrejectionofSCforthegrantbutScottishgovthadahorrificeffectonmyanxietyanddepression.ThankgoodnesstheychangedtheirmindsbutIwentthroughweeksofunnecessarytorment.”“Ithasbeenafrighteningmonth.Naturallyeveryoneistosomedegreescaredjustnow,butwhenyouaddinsuchlevelsoffinancialuncertainty,whenoursoleincomeistakenaway,whenweareviewedwithsuspicionanddislikeinourcommunitiesfornoreasonotherthanirrationalfear(oftenstirredupbypoliticianswhoshouldknowbetterandareveryshortsighted),whenyoudon'tknowwhenitwillend,andwhentryingtogetsomesupporthasseemedexhausting,ittakesitstoll.Eachannouncement(iefirst

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grantafterinitiallybeingexcluded)andpotentialsecondwaveofgrantaidhasbeenabigrelief.Asitisgoingtobealongtimeuntilwecomeoutoftheothersidewestillworryhowlongthiswilllast,andarestillfightingtobeincludedina'wage'helplikeotherself-employed(80%)system.Sothestresscontinues...”“Iunderstandthereistobeasecondroundof75%grantforsecondproperties.Ishallapplyforthisfortworeasons:firstbecauseitisplainthisisgoingtolastlongerthanweallthoughtandwewillneedthesupport.Andsecondbecausewehaveincomeinterruptioninsuranceof£50kwhichdidn'tpayout.Haditdoneso,Iwouldnothaveneededtoclaimformpublicfundsandthegrantmoneycouldhavebeenspentonsomethingelse.Ithinktheinsurancebusinessisoneofthethingsthatshouldbeexaminedinthelightofrecentevents.”Q16Howareyoufeelingrightnowaboutyourbusiness?Thereisstillmuchconcernandinstabilitybeingfeltacrossrespondents,withbookingsbeingwipedoutuncertaintyaboutthedurationoflockdown,thereisincreasinganxietyforthedevastationbeingfeltacrossthesector.Veryoptimistic 3 0.5%Somewhatoptimistic 60 9.5%Neutral 145 23.13%Somewhatpessimistic 265 42.26%Verypessimistic 154 24.56%Examples:“NotonlyistheHolidaycottagebringinginnoincome,thepriceofmilkiffallingdramaticallyandsoisthepriceofcattle.Nobodyisthinkingofgivingusanycompensation,yetifwecouldclosetheywouldgiveushelp.”“I’mgoingtogobust.Noincomefor8weeks.”“Mybusinesswilldefinitelycloseifthisincomerestrictionremains.Itgeneratesasignificant"income"butagreatdealofthatincomeisactuallyrecycledintothecommunity,thatiswhattheGovernmentdoesn'tunderstand.Iwouldestimatethatoverall50%oftheincomeispaidoutinallowableexpendituretolocalbusinesses(inaverypoorruralvillage).Ipaysomeonelocaltomanagetheproperty,cleantheproperty,wash,ironandreplacebedding/towels.IpaylocalelectricianstoPATtestandrepairwhennecessaryaswellasmanyadhocexpenditurestolocaltradespeople,Ipayalocalgardenerthroughouttheyear.Igenuinelylikerecyclingthismoneyintothevillageandassuchdon'tshopforanythingathomewhenIneedtogoup,IalwaysbuyitemsfromthevillageshopbecauseIwantittokeepgoing.IfeelsobitteratthemomentthatIambeingcategorisedassomeonenotworthyofagrantandIamapparentlyjustoperatingmyownholidayhome,Iwillindeedconvertittoapureholidayhome,simplypaycounciltaxasaratepayerandspendnothingatalllocally(neitherwillanyguests)asquitesimplyput,IwouldnotwanttoputanymoneyintotheeconomyofaCountrythatseesmethisway.TheabsoluteironyofallthisisthatIwaslookingtobuyanotherlettingpropertyinGalloway,butnotnow”“Thisisalargeholidayproperty,usuallybookedwellinadvanceforextendedfamilygroups.I'mnotsurethatthisbusinesswillpickupquickly.Mysecondpropertyisjustforcouples,Ianticipatebookingsforthiswillpickupquicklysoammoreoptimistic-aslongasIamallowedtotraveltoservicetheproperty-over70!”