“Just pay up... everybody else has to, regardless of where they live! You think living with students' is bad, you wanna try living in some of the slums in America, where shooting someone is a daily occurence. Get over yourself and get on and pay it, everybody else has to and so should you!”

“If I understand his protest correctly - he's not having a go directly at the students and from the comments made below - perhaps the government 'could' put in new legistlation which would mean;

- Student landlords pay Council Tax

- Landlords could be forced to limit the amount charged for rent to students, in certain areas for certain sized and modern facilities / lodgings. (therefore not passing on the extra costs to the students themselves)

- Ensure Landlords (like me) issue students with short-term tennacy agreements - making them liable for the Council Tax.

- PCC have more powers to deal with property developers or ignore and break the planning laws.

Student properties which are converted illegally by rogue landlords have increased over the last few years (esp in Plymouth) and the council have done little to combat it or fine those responsible.

Happyzone below has made some valid points - and like him - I agree with Mr Bamping and I'm a Student Landlord and own almost 60 properties in Plymouth.

For the last 17 years I haven't paid £1 in Council Tax for any of my properties...if he government changed the law tomorrow - I would abide by it and respect it.

I'd also vote Bamping in for Mayor of Plymouth - if PCC give us the right to vote our leader in that is. This guy has bigger balls than most of the council put together...!”

“Oh Danny Boy, what are you going to pull next from your magic hat?
I know Danny well and admire him for his tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit. However, I'm also a landlord and although I agree with him to a point, I'm afraid there are many issues here and all is not as black and white as he makes it out to be.
Firstly, Danny's not silly enough to go to prison, though it would make a point and get him national publicity.
Secondly, having owned two businesses over the past 14 years, it's not all as rosey and financially rewarding as some seem to think. Indeed, I'll guarantee that some of you out there who work for private companies have bosses who will pay you before they pay themselves. If you don't think so and believe it's so richly rewarding that you'll have endless amounts of money very quickly, go and set-up your own business and reap the easy, rich rewards. Once you've done that wake up and smell the coffee.
The same goes for most landlords. For some reason everyone thinks we're loaded gov. Well, the same story applies - why don't you go and be a landlord and fill your boots with all that lovely cash??? It's so EASY, or at least it appears that way judging by some of the comments on here. Just like any other business I've had (and Danny), we've sacrificed lots to be where we are, risks that most people wouldn't even dream of. I'll swap my £1/2m of borrowings with any of you if you want.
And then, as someone quite rightly said on here, try and do it in an economy that's crashing around your ears. EASY again isn't it?
So, not only do you want to tax landlords on their earnings, which is fair enough, you also want to make them pay other people's council tax? I always thought it was the inhabitant of the property that paid the council tax? Imagine the ramifications if landlords have to pay?
And as for all you student haters out there, here's a quick bit of maths. Plym Uni approx 26,000 students. Imagine if each of them paid £75/week rent (over 48 weeks - let's be kind. That's almost £94m/year coming into our region, and that's without them shopping, drinking (possibly too much), eating, course fees, etc... Are you starting to see the bigger picture now? Possibly. Yet a number of you out there want to get rid of them because of a noisy, unsociable few. How very bizarre. You also think your house prices will rise if the students disappear. Hmmm, let me think about that one. They disappear, £100's millions disappears from the local economy, house prices rise. Really? Please explain in no more than 3000 words?!
So Danny, I do sympathise with your view, but I think maybe a reduced council tax rate on students (yes, I'm bound to say that aren't I?) may be a solution. However, I think the real issue here is your landlord neighbour and the complete ineffectiveness of PCC to deal with him. It is landlords like him that give the other landlords a bad name, carrying out work with out the correct permission and causing you and your family hell. He's playing the system and will get away with it for as long as possible. I suggest he may be bending other rules as well, so a call to HM Customs & Taxes may be worthwhile.
So come on you lot, it's easy, put your money where your mouth is. Jump on the gravey train, buy a few houses, start your own business and become an instant millionaire.... Just like we do. Good luck.”

“Danny I thought you supported students? Your name is on a plaque on the wall in Roland Levinsky building. If student landlords have to pay Council Tax who do you think the cost will be passed on to? Cheers mate!”

“Mr Big ABP clearly isn't 'all that' if he can make a sweeping statement about people who live in Hillside Avenue. Idiot.”

“most janners end up in prison anyway so go for it dude”

“Danny Bamping pay up! or you will be going to prison else. Only OAP's gets saved. I agree with what you believe in but going to prison will not make any difference.”

“My son was forced to seek work away from Plymouth trying to sell his house but was forced to pay council tax when he has to live in Yarmouth. What is going on about fairness as this Goverment proposes.”

“Going to prison will cost YOU the taxpayer £400 per week, not a very logical way of looking at it is it....

He is complaining about students / landlords not about the unfair and regressive council tax which should be abolished and local taxes made more progressive....”

“I seem to remember that our council wrote of many millions of pounds in unpaid council tax from the time of Ma Thatchers Poll Tax when hundreds of Plymouthians refused to pay their tax. I suppose it is easier to take one man to court than it is hundreds but it does smack of double standards!.
Personally if he is prepared to go to prison then thats his choice, I prefer to pay up and shut up its easier and as an old fella I don't have the time for such futile demonstrations of heroics.”