A TIMESHARE company has appointed agents to sell holiday lodges - despite an arbitration process ongoing.

In December, the Courant reported Seasons Holidays' was accused of trying to remove members with timeshares at the lodges at Slaley Hall - a claim denied by the company.

The lodges were being marketed by Avison Young on behalf of Hutchinson's Trustee Limited.

The Timeshare Consumer Association (TCA) said the owners have hired a legal team.

An arbitration notice regarding the legality of the wind up was issued to a number of respondents, including Hutchinson Trustees and SHLL, said a TCA spokesman.

The lodge listings have since been removed from Rightmove, TCA said, as owners claim they have leases until 2069.

Avison Young had said it would work with the board of trustees to find one or multiple buyers for the 37 leasehold holiday lodges held on five separate titles, and not for sale individually.

“Slaley Hall Lodges are in a beautiful part of the country and offer a great home away from home", said Richard Baldwin, director at Avison Young. "Over the last few years, we have seen an incredible rise in staycation demand across the UK and now, more than ever, people are valuing holidays in Britain.

“Purchasing the lodges, whether in totality or in the lots, offers a great opportunity for a party or consortium to buy into, and operate in, a market that has seen exponential growth.”

Daniel Keating, information officer for the TCA, said: "We hope that the Slaley Hall Lodge owners are treated fairly and their contracts respected."

In 2020, lodge owners reported attempts to get them to give up their memberships. And members claim there are problems with family members of directors of Seasons Holidays being on its committee.

“We strongly refute all allegations being made against us”, a spokesman for Seasons Holidays previously said.

“Seasons bought Slaley Hall, and the nearby resort of Belton, in April 2019. There has been a stark difference in the relationship, attitudes and approach of the two respective club committees.

“Belton continues to run very smoothly. However, Seasons has become increasingly frustrated at how the Slaley Hall committee has undermined all attempts to operate the resort from day one.

“The constitution (which we inherited) provides for the club to be wound up if 75 per cent of owners agree – there is nothing illegal or underhand, we are just following the club’s own constitution.

“The whole process is being administered by independent trustees, and if the club is wound up, all owners will receive a payment – their share of all of the assets of the club, which includes the values of all of the lodges.

“This valuation – if the vote is passed – will be carried out by a leading, respected and independent UK company with expertise in this particular sector, who will be engaged by the trustees.”

Clare D'Agostino, who has holidayed at the lodges, told the TCA: "We all love it. My brother Alan, his wife and son are all golfers and they expected to be enjoying Slaley for the foreseeable future. Alan can not get his head around the fact we may be cheated out of it.

"My 86-year-old mum, Vera, is both upset and furious at the injustice of what Seasons are doing. We still can't work out how it is being allowed to happen. It's disgraceful, disappointing and upsetting."