1. Business advice
  2. Know your legal obligations

Know your legal obligations

Our Pink Book can help you ensure your accommodation or attraction is compliant with regulations. This popular resource is available online and to purchase as a handy reference book.

Did you know that you have to register with your local authority if you serve any food or drink, including breakfast? Or that you can’t refuse customers because of their age unless they are under 18?

Our Pink Book Online is a guide to legislation relevant to accommodation and attractions in England. Find out on what grounds you can refuse a booking, what licences you need to play music or provide TVs and how to comply with health & safety regulations.

Buy a printed copy of our legislation guide

Printed copies of the Pink Book: legislation for tourist accommodation and attractions are available to purchase for £12.49.
Buy the Pink Book

Top Resources

Chapters

Licences & Consents

Marketing

Customers

Food & Drink

Health & Safety

Staff

Business Management & Tax

  • PASC UK

    The Pink Book is sponsored by the Professional Association of Self-Caterers (PASC) UK, who are dedicated to lobbying on behalf of the professional self-catering sector throughout the UK.

    • Licences & consents

    Alcohol, entertainment and gaming licensing

    If you want to provide any alcohol, you will need a licence. You may need a licence or permit to have gaming machines.

    TV and copyright licences

    You need special licences to allow your guests to access TVs, films and music.

    Planning and building

    Change of use consent and building regulations may apply if you are starting, changing or expanding your business premises.

    Signs for your premises

    Permission requirements to display exterior signage and how to apply for a brown tourism sign.
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    Marketing

    Unfair trading practices

    What you can and can’t say when advertising your business, including online review sites.

    Direct marketing

    Regulations covering email and telephone marketing to customers.

    Holiday packages

    Your obligations under the Package Travel Regulations.
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    Customers

    Bookings and Tickets

    An overview of booking terms and conditions and selling tickets.

    Registration and data protection

    Your obligation to record certain guest details, data protection regulations and CCTV requirements.

    Pricing and charging

    How to advertise your prices within the law and the ban on debit and credit card payment charges.

    Cancellations and no-shows

    Your rights when a guest cancels and your obligations if you cannot fulfil a booking.

    Alternative dispute resolution

    What you need to do if you cannot resolve a dispute with a customer and what to show on your website if you take online bookings.

    Accepting customers

    When you can refuse a customer and what counts as discrimination under the Equality Act, including age discrimination.

    Disabled customers

    Your obligations under the Equality Act 2010 regarding anyone who is disabled, thought to be disabled or associated with someone who is disabled.

    Luggage and belongings

    Your responsibility to keep guests’ belongings secure and your right to keep luggage until the bill has been paid.

    Childcare

    If you provide childcare facilities, there are specific regulations you need to follow.
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    Food & drink

    Food safety and hygiene

    If you supply any food or drink, including breakfast, you need to register with your local authority.

    Food labelling

    You must tell guests if your food contains any of the 14 major allergens.

    Single-use plastics

    It is illegal to provide plastic drink stirrers and cotton buds to customers and there are significant restrictions on providing plastic straws.
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    Health & safety

    Health & Safety at Work Act

    Your responsibilities for the safety of your staff and your legal obligation to complete a health & safety assessment.

    Health and safety liabilities

    Your liability to guests and employees, what insurance you can take and whether you need a licence to transport guests.

    Safety management

    Your legal obligations under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

    Hazards from work activities

    How to ensure your staff do their jobs safely, such as employees who use computers.

    Hazards in the workplace

    Guidance on the use of safety glass, preventing trips and testing electrical products.

    Product safety

    How to ensure you provide safe products for your customers, particularly for gas and electrical appliances.

    Swimming, gym and outdoor safety

    How to manage health & safety for swimming pools and gyms and whether you need a licence for adventure activities.

    Fire safety (general)

    How the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to tourism businesses.

    Fire safety of furniture and furnishings

    What legislation applies in relation to the fire safety of furniture.

    Complete your Fire Risk Assessment

    Use our free template to help comply with your legal obligation.

    Smoking in public places

    Your legal duty to display a no smoking sign and ensure enclosed spaces remain smoke-free.

    Legionnaires’ disease

    Legionella is classified as a “hazardous substance” and you are required to undertake a risk assessment, and any subsequent remedial actions, in order to protect both your staff and customers.
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    Staff

    Working hours

    An overview of the Working Time Regulations and what your employees are entitled to.

    National Minimum Wage

    The current minimum rates of pay you must provide and who is entitled to it.

    Discrimination

    Guidance on the Equality Act 2010 and legally protected characteristics.

    Time off for parents

    Your obligations regarding maternity and paternity rights, flexible working and parental leave.

    Migrant workers

    What documents you need to check for workers originally from outside the UK.

    Employing under 18s

    The legalities around employing staff under the age of 18.

    Workplace pensions

    If you employ staff you must provide a pension scheme and contribute towards it.
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    Business management & tax

    Income tax, VAT & legal form of business

    There are different tax implications depending on your form of business.

    Tax status of accommodation businesses

    There are advantages to having your self-catering property treated as a trade business rather than a rental property.

    Business rates

    Find out if your business is subject to business rates.

    Self-catering letting options

    The legal definition of a holiday letting and the legal implications of long term let options.

    Houses in multiple occupation

    Your local authority may class your business as a House in Multiple Occupation, which has increased regulatory implications.

    Utilities and waste collection

    Legislation concerning private water supplies, charging guests for gas and electricity and commercial waste collection.
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    Further information

    Latest regulatory updates

    Stay up to date on the latest legislation changes with our regular update.

    Where to find further information

    Where to go to find further guidance on legislation relevant to tourist accommodation.

    Buy a Pink Book

    Printed copies of the Pink Book are available to purchase.

    Pink Book Disclaimer

    Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the Pink Book of Legislation, we regret that we cannot be responsible for any errors.
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