Housing abuse

“Some facts on this which may help you all have some perspective;

Council tax is paid for by consent; you have no contract with the council and they are not liable for any service they provide you.

You are never served with a proper lawful bill...and all communication is sent to your name in capital letters (Meaning its actually address to your birth certificate - Legal fiction/reflection)

Danny Bamping is not (yet) bankrupt as he has appealed the order made against him and is currently awaiting a date for his appeal (I know this because I know him personally)

There are 3,669 Student properties currently exempt in Plymouth for being 'student properties' - if these were all Band C - then that would mean over £5.3M being missed out on into PCC coffers.

Across Europe Governments tightly regulate and control letting and any 'state funded' properties -by ensuring the rents charged are not extortionate to the occupiers dependant on location, facilities etc. Therefore, ensuring the costs of such taxes cannot be simply added to rents.
In this country if the all local councils charged student houses - then the landlords would simply put the rent up to cover the costs.

The new localism bill states that each local council has the power now to charge HMO's (home in multiple occupancy) - Business rates - because effectively thats what they are.

However, few do...if any...because alot of councillors have financial interests in 'student properties'. (including here in Plymouth...)

The money missed by PCC in collecting any CT from student properties - is 'refunded' to them by central government...and they generally get around 75% 'back' in a form of central funding / grant...so basically you pay CT locally - then part of the other taxes you pay - out of that pit they refund the councils most of the money they failed to collect from student landlords.

This isn't aimed at the students themselves; its the greedy landlords that benefit the most and of course the extra money saved by the students is then spent on more booze which no doubt will lead to them disturbing their neighbours, families, locals, children...who are paying for it all. In more ways than one.

Wake up People...do your research, do your math and make an educated and informed decision and judgement before jumping to conclusions.

Why ANY pay tax when they can print money away - slaves to their system - from birth.”

“students are poor but it because they spend the money they are given for studying on booze and various other things that have nothing to do with their studies.

i know a number of students and every term all i hear from them is cant wait for my student loan to come through so i can waste it on a mountain bike worth a few grand and the rest on booze and a few bits for uni
and others who use it for holidays or to buy thier transporter van or thier power kite gear.

what do they study before you ask Chemistry, pyscology, marine biology so what have any of the above got to do with those subjects. So sick of listening to both friends and others uni student moaning about joe public and non students complaining about them being spongers”

“So when developers want to build these accommodation blocks just for students that would take the pressure off local housing stock, everyone on here moans like hell. You can't have it both ways!

Whilst the students studying in Plymouth may not pay Council Tax, just think that all the students FROM Plymouth won't be paying Council Tax in which ever city in the UK they are studying in. Swings and roundabouts?”

“LOL went a bit off topic there.

Considering how many tax's the general public pay they should appreciate better the need for students not to pay it but spend their money on getting blind drunk and keeping everyone in the street awake until 6am on fridays and saturdays !

Gotta pay the electric bill to keep the music going !

On a more serious note I think they should have to pay a reduced rate in line with giving students a little discount........25% off. I don't think they should pay a full year of it but definately the lions share.

We all have to pay our way.”

“I do not mind paying my share of tax's but the constant onslaught of sucking my wallet dry has its limits !

PAYE
NI
VAT
Council Tax
Road Tax
Petrol Tax
Inheritance Tax
Buy-a-House Tax (Stamp Duty)
Aeroplane Tax

No wonder people say "taxing someone" when referring to stealing.

I probably would not mind if there was some true tangible benefit I got from working my 40 hr/week year in year out but I am struggling to see why over 60% of my money goes to the government and council.

Have I been born into slavery ? I remember thinking how lucky I was to be born into a society which represents less than 1% of the worlds population........I could have been born in a 3rd world country where there is no running water, medicine or general affluent wealth.

I think I am the slave to society now.”

“TIMPLYMOUTH , I suggest you have a walk around mutley plain and see the poor students buying there beer from the bars and super markets ,poor students my a**”

“zita i agree with you i know where you live and to walk anywhere around that area which i do its spot the english language all you hear is jabber jabber etc and they are so rude so make their rents sky high and pay council tax and everything that the rest of us have to do give the houses back to families who need them”

“Danny Bamping is an idiot, so whatever he says its worthless.

And with regard to students, they are also feeling the pinch just like everyone else.”

“Isn't it the case that if properties let for students attracted council tax the owners would then increase the rents, students would then try to claim some form of accommodation benefit from the taxpayer and guess who would win? Not the taxpayer, that's for sure.”

“Yes, in principle you are right, but if you research into his background and look into the reasons why this man is doing this, it has nothing to do with the legality of it all. The companies he has owned and owns are being dissolved. He has only used this as a bandwagon as a reason for non payment, he is not able to pay as his company's are failing. With regard to letting out rooms, he has also done so hypocritically himself let to Polish students. Don't let the issue cloud your judgment. In principle yes, why should we pay the Council Tax in full when Landlords with students do not, but the background behind his story in denying to pay are also the reasons why he has been made bankrupt.”