Cracking down on rates cheats

Council's building control officers were commissioned to help recoup some of the 700,000 owed in rates to the Department of Finance from registered “vacant” premises, which are, in fact, occupied.

Land and Property Services (LPS) is responsible for the collection of the rates. It has commissioned councils to check on registered 'vacant' properties.

The agency is owed the 700,000 from Craigavon rates evaders, from which Craigavon Borough Council will get a percentage to pay for local services in the district.

The building control team called on 3,000 properties throughout the borough which LPS had listed on their books as being 'vacant', details of occupants were then sent to LPS to raise the bills.

Councillor Kenneth Twyble said: "I believe that this was very much a team effort by building control including administrative staff.

“They worked hard to provide LPS with information on 'vacant' properties amounting to 700,000 owed in rates. Whilst this information was forwarded to LPS, unfortunately they cannot tell us how much of that 700,000 was actually recouped.

"LPS now hold more accurate up to date information on all those vacant properties within the borough which will allow bills to be sent out in the future to all those who should be paying. There is no hiding place for rate evaders."