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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| £17m lost in non-collected rates | £17m lost in non-collected rates |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Revenue worth £17m has been lost in Northern Ireland through the non-collection of domestic rates. | Revenue worth £17m has been lost in Northern Ireland through the non-collection of domestic rates. |
| It has emerged that 30,000 properties, listed as vacant by the Land and Property Service, were occupied and rates bills had not been issued. | It has emerged that 30,000 properties, listed as vacant by the Land and Property Service, were occupied and rates bills had not been issued. |
| The mistake came to light following an inspection of the vacant premises, collated by the LPS, by local councils. | The mistake came to light following an inspection of the vacant premises, collated by the LPS, by local councils. |
| In Belfast 13,000 premises thought to be vacant were surveyed. More than half were found to be occupied. | In Belfast 13,000 premises thought to be vacant were surveyed. More than half were found to be occupied. |
| BBC NI Business Correspondent Kevin Magee said that about 6,500 properties in the city which were thought to be vacant are, in fact, occupied. | BBC NI Business Correspondent Kevin Magee said that about 6,500 properties in the city which were thought to be vacant are, in fact, occupied. |
| So far, the majority of people living in them have not been billed for rates. | So far, the majority of people living in them have not been billed for rates. |
| It is thought that this could cost Belfast City Council almost £2m in lost revenue in the next year. | |
| The SDLP group at City Hall said the council should be compensated for what it is describing as the "incompetence" of those charged with collecting rates. | The SDLP group at City Hall said the council should be compensated for what it is describing as the "incompetence" of those charged with collecting rates. |