Thu 26th Feb 2015 - Pubco watchdog identifies areas for improvement PICA-Service report identifies areas for tenant-landlord improvement: The PICA-Service (the Pubs Independent Conciliation and Arbitration Service), the body responsible for dealing with cases alleging breaches by pub company or brewery landlords of the pub industry Framework Code or individual company codes of conduct, has published its annual report on the work of the service. A summary of the findings states that the PICA-Service has to date conducted twelve hearings of which ten found in favour of the tenant complainant with two complainants unsuccessful. The PICA-Service awarded damages in nine cases and instructed remedial structural works to be carried out in a further case. Four awards were in respect of findings concerning rent review issues, and six in respect of a lack of communication between pub company/brewery and their tenant. Sir Peter Luff MP, chairman of the Pub Governing Body responsible for operation of the PICA-Service, said: “The publication of this annual report confirms that the PICA-Service continues to be an active and constructive resource for landlords offering timely and cost-effective dispute resolution. The PICA-service is providing swift and practical support for tenants encountering problems and a low cost dispute resolution mechanism to remedy breaches where they arise. Of the twelve hearings, we have found in favour of the tenant complainant on ten occasions with rent review concerns and lack of communication between tenants and landlords a recurring theme. We are hopeful that by producing this report, not only can we encourage individual tenants to use the service to address issues of concern but also more broadly encourage pub companies and breweries to work with their tenants to contribute to improving levels of compliance and best practice across the industry.”