Council should target city’s tax evaders

RE page 6 of the Telegraph (January 3) a story about how the council is going to hit empty second home owners with massive increases in council tax. The increases are truly colossal and unnecessary. But then it’s far easier to target second home owners rather than chase up persistent council tax evaders.

The council has practically given up on pursuing those who blatantly don’t pay, hence the easy soft and far more profitable option of second home owners is now taken. True, Coventry does have a massive housing shortage, but then is it surprising when the council proudly boasts that we are a City of Refuge and Sanctuary that welcomes all with open arms. Exactly where everyone is going to live seems to of not really been thought through.

If the council really wants to get these empty second homes back into use why don’t they offer financial incentives to help the owners become landlords and help pay to make the homes suitable?

On the very next page to this article there is a story about how the council is going to bring in a licencing scheme to combat rough landlords who overcrowd their properties.

Again these licences will come with a fee payable to the council. Previously I have reported one property where the landlord built a property in the back yard without planning permission.

The council did not want to know.

Seems it’s all window dressing and easy target taxation that this council is interested in.

Brian Nathan-Partridge Stivichall

Many thanks to John Morgan for sending in this photo of the new impressive highrise buildings in Fairfax Street, Coventry taken on Christmas Eve. Have you taken a Pic of the Day that you’d like to see published? Email it to letters@ coventrytelegraph. net with your name, location and a brief caption.