News

Taxman gives a little –
and takes it away

Do you own and let out a holiday property in the European Union? If so, you could be due a partial refund of tax paid in the UK since April 2006. But you may need to hurry: claims for the 2006/7 tax year must be submitted by 31 July, though you’ve got till 31 January next year to claim for the year ending 5 April 2008.

The change is because the tax treatment of holiday lettings has to be the same throughout the EU, and until now the UK government has taxed holiday letting property in the UK more leniently. The good news is that the UK rules will now apply to Brit-owned holiday lettings wherever they are in the EU. The bad news is that it’s only for a year. Faced with loss of revenue, the government is withdrawing the concessions altogether – for both UK and overseas properties – after the end of the current tax year.

The main differences are, first, that if you’ve made a loss on your lettings business, this can now be offset against your personal income tax. And second, spending on furniture and equipment can be deducted from income. If you’ve sold an overseas property, there could be changes in the capital gains tax payable.

It’s all very complicated, of course. You can download the details here. But you’ll probably need to talk to an accountant to get the full picture on how it affects you.

1,000 Brits a day lose bags at airports

An average of 1,086 Britons lost luggage at airports every day in 2008, according to new research which has identified the top five travel insurance claims for 2008. These were:

1. Medical problems
2. Lost or stolen baggage
3. Cancellation of flights
4. Lost or stolen money
5. Travel delay

The findings come from travel insurer InsureandGo, which estimates that UK travel insurers paid out on over 1.45m claims in these five categories last year, totalling some £553m in value.

The number of Britons claiming for lost or stolen baggage last year is estimated at 396,000, costing the insurance companies £37.9m, up 8 per cent on 2007.

One in eight of these claimants think their luggage was stolen, with a similar proportion of all adults thinking airport baggage handlers can’t be trusted. Apparently 21 per cent of air travellers are so worried about losing their bags that they have deliberately packed less so they need only take hand luggage onto the flight, in an effort to reduce the risk of baggage loss.

Perry Wilson, founder of InsureandGo, added: “The average lost luggage claim cost has risen quite substantially, which suggests that either people are packing more expensive luggage, or they have started exaggerating the value of it.”

The greatest number of travel insurance claims last year – 565,500 – was for medical problems, costing an estimated £383.6m. That was a startling 58 per cent increase on 2007, reflecting mostly a 42 per cent rise in the average value of medical claims, though the number of claims rose by 11 per cent.

“Medical claims are still the most costly for the travel insurance industry,” says Perry Wilson. “Unfortunately the average claim value seems to be rocketing, which highlights just how important it is for people to have adequate travel insurance, particularly when times are tough.”

There has also been a big increase in claims for flight cancellations. In the year of the ill-fated launch of Heathrow’s Terminal 5, there were over 240,000 claims for flight cancellation, a 23 per cent rise on 2007. The average value of these claims increased by 22 per cent, creating a huge 51 per cent increase in the total value of payouts for flight cancellations from £77m to £116m.

Award for Solange

Travel writer Solange Hando, a regular contributor to Holiday Villas & Cottages, has won the accolade of Travel Writer of the Year from the Saint Lucia tourist board.

The award was made for her article Where the beat goes on… in our New Year 2009 issue, page 22.

Faster to France

The biggest ever cross-Channel fast ferry goes into service between Dover and Boulogne on 29 May.

With a top speed of 40 knots, the brand new, high speed 112 metre wave-piercing catamaran will be the first freight-carrying fast vessel to operate across the Dover Straits, while owner LD Lines becomes the first-ever French ferry company to operate high speed ferries on the short sea routes from Dover.

Built in Tasmania by Australian company Incat, the vessel is the world’s largest diesel-powered catamaran, at nearly 11,000 gross tonnes. It can carry 1,200 passengers and up to 417 cars, with its size also making it better able to handle rough seas, with a more comfortable ride, than previous smaller fast ferries. Crossing time is cut from 1 hour 45 minutes by conventional ferry to just 60 minutes.

LD Lines plans four return crossings per day by fast ferry, in addition to the current two by conventional ferry. All types of tourist traffic will be carried including cars, caravans, motorhomes, motorcycles, coaches and foot passengers, in addition to freight.

“This is a very exciting, innovative step forward for LD Lines. We will be dramatically revolutionising ferry transport across the channel, with a style of service never experienced before on the Dover Straits,” said LD Lines managing director, Christophe Santoni.

For more service information, sailing schedules and to book got to LD Lines.

Get stoned!

If you’re interested in rocks and landscape, there’s a chance to discover more during European Geoparks Week during late May and early June.

There are 35 UNESCO Geoparks throughout Europe, in areas with special geological heritage and landscapes. The North Pennines AONB became Britain’s first European Geopark in 2003, and each year the North Pennines AONB Partnership runs Northern Rocks – the North Pennines Festival of Geology and Landscape. This year’s festival, from 23 May to 7 June, is packed with around 40 interesting events, from a classic bus geotour to a dry stone walling training day. Most events are free (although most need to be booked in advance) and many of them are new activities in the programme. There are events for all ages to get involved in, including themed walks, mine tours, children’s activities and craft events.

You can download an online copy of the programme at North Pennines or call the AONB Partnership on 01388 528801. For details of other Geoparks and events, go to European Geoparks Network

Menorca on a budget

The popular Mediterranean island of Menorca will be easier and cheaper to reach this summer, following the launch of a new easyJet route from Luton to the island’s capital, Mahón.

The new three-times-a-week service starts on 6 July, with fares from £28.99 one way, including taxes.

Two other new routes, to Milan and Montpellier (from 7 July), bring the number of destinations served by easyJet from Luton airport to 34.

“Milan, Mahón and Montpellier are fantastic additions to our low-fares services from Luton,” said easyJet regional general manager Paul Simmons.
“These exciting destinations have an appeal for everyone whatever their budget and holiday needs.”

The Turtles of Torrevieja

You may have thought Mediterranean turtles were confined to Greek and Turkish islands – but they are alive and flapping on Spain’s Costa Blanca, where the locals like to look after them.

Recently, four injured turtles were nursed back to health at the El Saler rescue centre in Valencia after being found near the resort of Torrevieja – popular for villa holidays – near Alicante.

Two turtles had become entangled in fishing nets, one had swallowed plastic and one had become hooked on a fishing line. All were successfully treated and returned to the sea at La Mata beach, watched by Torrevieja’s mayor, the regional councillor for the environment and a small crowd of holidaymakers.