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£17m lost in non-collected rates £17m lost in non-collected rates
(about 4 hours later)
Revenue worth £17m has been lost in Northern Ireland through the non-collection of rates. The body responsible for rates in Northern Ireland has defended itself after it emerged £17m has been lost through non-payments.
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. Some 30,000 properties, listed vacant by the Land and Property Service, were, in fact, occupied but 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.
In Belfast 13,000 premises thought to be vacant were surveyed. More than half were found to be occupied. Trevor Steenson of the Land and Property Services said a lack of resources led to the mistake.
"It (the service) couldn't do it with the resources that it had available at the time and that's why we entered into partnership with the local authorities and why we instigated this project," he said.
"The Land Property Services has put additional services into that unit and certainly from now we will have the resources that we need to properly investigate vacant properties."
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.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 described as the "incompetence" of those charged with collecting rates.