Review of BMC Huts Survey 2023
The 2023 Huts Survey was a follow up to the survey conducted in 2016 about mountain huts run by BMC affiliated clubs, and to the intermediary survey run in 2020 to better understand the issues huts were facing with the covid restrictions.
The aim of the survey was to provide inform to hut managers and management committees about how other huts were run to aid sharing good practice and the understanding of any “norms” across huts.
In this survey we were concerned about how club huts were being used since Covid and how clubs were combating the effect of energy conservation and renovations.
Access and Accommodation
As with the 2016 survey, mountain huts were found to be very diverse. They were mostly properties built around the 1900 and converted in the 1960’s.
Digital access into huts has now become more common to enable easier access for people.
Also, there are a lot more online hut booking systems than in 2016.
We were very pleased that nearly all of you received Covid business restriction grants.
Accommodation sized from 10- 46 beds, with most being in the 20’s and providing bunk and alpine beds. Three quarters of huts are owned by clubs with a quarter leased. The BMC Huts Group has identified that clubs that lease huts may require bespoke support that isn’t currently provided.
Occupancy and fees
Occupancy is generally low compared to commercial enterprises as members tend to mostly use huts at weekends. However, some club huts do get high usage mid-week. For some huts, this is likely due to the club’s size but not in all cases. One reassuring point is that occupancy seems to have returned to pre-covid levels.
Fees have increased since the last survey. The average cost for club members per night in 2016 was £5, now it is £7. Family, Guests, BMC groups and other people staying pay higher prices, averages for guests being £8 and others £12 per night. This is still low compared to commercial accommodation at about £26pppn. However, hut users are expected to look after themselves and the property during the stay, unlike in some commercial accommodation.
It is good to see that half the clubs allow under 18’s at hut under some supervision. The BMC has a new safeguarding policy that requires clubs with U18’s staying in huts to have a safeguarding officer to help signpost any concerns from hut users.
In this survey we did not ask about running costs, but the previous survey concluded that huts tend to run with a surplus.
Utilities
As mentioned above huts vary considerably. Sleeping can be in bunks or alpine mattresses in a single room or partitioned areas, some have several separate rooms. A number offer camping and/or space for people to stay in camper vans.
All except one have toilets (you know who you are!), with half having separate male/female rooms. Nearly all have a shower.
Drying rooms seem to be essential with people going in the hills, however three huts require clothes to be dried around the fire. Drying rooms use electric fan heaters or dehumidifiers.
Water and Sewage
Two thirds of the huts are on mains water while the rest obtain water from a river or stream. These supplies require water treatment and regular testing.
4/5 of the huts have a septic tank. Again, hut managers need to follow protocols for their performance, safety, and servicing. These include 8 huts that have treatment plants of some sort.
Cooking and heating
Most huts use electricity as a primary source for heating with a secondary source being a fire or stove. For cooking there is a 50/50 mix of electricity and gas, with a 50/50 mix of mains gas supply to LPG.
A fuel source balance is required because huts will only have a consumer supply of 100A providing 20 KWH. This can be exceeded if running storage heaters, showers, kettles, drying rooms, etc. This restriction will cause problems if electric car charging points are added at huts.
Repair and refurbishment
A series of questions asked about views on maintaining and upgrading huts. Currently huts seem to have a mish mash. Most have some insulation, double glazing and use some LED lighting. Only two clubs have invested in a solar system for power or water heating. There seems to be no wind turbines or heat pumps.
Most monitor energy use and are interested in reduced rates from a communal energy supply. On asking about hut refurbishments most clubs were looking at running costs, however half required advice on knowing the correct approach and finding the advisors and contractors to carry out the work. As a note it is worth looking into how your hut is registered e.g. hostel, holiday let, etc. In Wales a “Hostel” obtains a small business rates relief if the business has less than £6,000 surplus.
Where the BMC can provide help
The BMC Huts Group is a small group of BMC volunteers with some office support. We all have an interest in either our club hut(s) or one of the National huts.
We hold timely Hut Seminars at the BMC office and via Zoom.
We have set up a WhatsApp group for huts (Wales, England and Scotland) to enable clubs ask for advice and support each other. If you wish to join register here.
We are monitoring, providing timely advice, and lobbing the Welsh government on the registration and license scheme for all visitor accommodation
We are looking into communal energy supplies for Clubs.
We are working on approaches to upgrade, modernise and repair huts with environmental considerations.
We provided advice on how to use huts during Covid to enable clubs to use their hut and obtain Covid support.
We are looking at BMC safeguarding children and vulnerable people policies to enable under 18’s to safely stay at huts.
Phil Moore and the BMC Huts Group