Homestay

Summary

The request sought annual statistics on registered properties under the Isle of Man Homestay Scheme and details of investigations or prosecutions for non-registration between 2011 and 2017. The Department for Enterprise disclosed all requested data, showing registration numbers for each year and investigation counts, while confirming there were no prosecutions.

Key Facts

• The Homestay Scheme registration numbers fluctuated between 630 and 884 properties annually from 2011 to 2017.
• Investigations for failing to register occurred during both the TT Festival and the Festival of Motorcycling (FOM) in most years.
• Some investigations involved registered properties, while others involved unregistered properties.
• There have been zero prosecutions under the Tourist Act 1975 for failing to register under the Homestay Scheme during the requested period.
• The 2011 registration figure provided covers the period prior to the specific start date requested (11th October 2011) due to the scheme's summer operation.

Data Disclosed

• 799
• 795
• 630
• 678
• 826
• 848
• 884
• 11th October 2011
• 30th September 2017
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
• 2017
• Tourist Act 1975
• 0 prosecutions

Data Tables (3)

Full Response Text

Page 1 of 3

Our Ref: IM107553I

Date: 16 November 2017

Dear

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”)

Thank you for your request dated 19 October 2017. Your request Your request was as follows: “1. How many properties have been registered under the Isle of Man Homestay Scheme each year, during the period 11th October 2011 to 30th September 2017? 2. Please provide details of the number of persons each year, during the period 11th October 2011 to 30th September 2017, who have been
a) investigated; and b) prosecuted
under the Tourist Act 1975, for failing to register under the Isle of Man Homestay Scheme, whilst accommodating paying guests during the TT Festival and the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling.”

Response to your request “1. How many properties have been registered under the Isle of Man Homestay Scheme each year, during the period 11th October 2011 to 30th September 2017?”

Properties registered under the Isle of Man Homestay Scheme each year, 2011- 2017

Year Total number of registered properties 2011 799 2012 795 2013 630

Department of Economic Development Rheynn Lhiasaghey Tarmaynagh

Steven Tallach Freedom of Information Co-ordinator 1st Floor St Georges Court Upper Church Street Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EX

Telephone: (01624) 685375
Website: www.gov.im/ded Email: steven.tallach@gov.im

Page 2 of 3

2014 678 2015 826 2016 848 2017 884

Please note, even though you requested numbers of registered properties from 11th October 2011 as the Homestay scheme runs over the summer months the figures provided for 2011 are prior to 11th October.

“2. Please provide details of the number of persons each year, during the period 11th October 2011 to 30th September 2017, who have been
a) investigated; and b) prosecuted under the Tourist Act 1975, for failing to register under the Isle of Man Homestay Scheme, whilst accommodating paying guests during the TT Festival and the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling.”

Investigated

Year TT FOM 2011 1 (unregistered) 0 2012 4 (unregistered) 3 (registered) 2013 0 0 2014 0 1 (registered) 2015 3 (unregistered) 1 (registered) 2016 2 (unregistered) 0 2017 1 (unregistered) 2 (registered)

Prosecutions

There have been no prosecutions.

Your right to request a review If you are unhappy with this response to your Freedom of Information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post to me at the above address. An electronic version and paper version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website here: https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/freedom-of-information- review-request/ Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.
If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1 Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act; or 2 Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.

In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of Page 3 of 3

alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your rights to review is on the Information Commissioner’s website at: https://www.inforights.im/ Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about Freedom of Information requests can be found www.gov.im/foi.

Yours sincerely

Steven Tallach Freedom of Information Co-ordinator