RLA : RPI : No hiding from asylum tax bill

News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members

other artilces from the August / September 2000 issue

No hiding from asylum tax bill - August / September 2000

Liverpool City Council will be taking 'severe action' against private landlords who fail to pay the council tax of asylum seeker tenants promptly.

Local Authorities were given the right to collect council tax from the landlords of tenants who have been housed under the Home Office National Asylum Support Service by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. So far as the Home Office is concerned, it told RPI, it is the responsibility of the Asylum Support Agencies with which it is contracted and their subcontracted private landlords to pay the tax. It assumes the cost will be added into fees and rents negotiated with it and by the agencies with private landlords.

Using its power to make private landlords liable for the payments, Liverpool City Council says it hopes to deter bad landlords who want 'to make a killing' out of housing asylum seekers. It also estimates its coffers will be topped up to the tune of £250,000 to help meet the cost of keeping asylum seekers in the city.

One of the first landlords to receive a demand is The Landmark Liverpool, one of the companies contracted by the Home Office to act as an Asylum Support Agency. The company is housing approximately 300 asylum seekers in two tower blocks in Everton formerly owned by the Council. Subsequent to being awarded the contract, and after an approach from a local MP, the Home Office inspected the properties and asked for improvements to heating, security and lifts.

other artilces from the August / September 2000 issue