Luke Pollard MP Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Empty student blocks should pay business rates
Hello #Plymouth – Students are a fantastic asset to our city. As well as bringing meaningful economic benefits, they add a diversity, richness and vibrancy to our city. Because Plymouth is such a brilliant place to study, some more unscrupulous business practices have sprung up to profit from this. Many purpose built student accommodation blocks, like Crescent Point are currently empty. Crescent Point has never been used for students since construction completed. Today am I calling for purpose-built student accommodation blocks that are left empty to pay premium rates for as long as they are empty.Student accommodation blocks do not pay council tax or business rates, and rightfully so, as the students occupying them are studying and on low income. These big student blocks being left empty leads to animosity towards students who are not the ones to blame here. It’s big business developers that need to be held to account, and be charged business rates when student blocks are left empty. When we are in the midst of a housing crisis, and with rising homelessness these empty buildings should be used. Or, they should be paying premium rates so they contribute to our local services.Empty student blocks are a blight on our city and a sign that things are not working properly. They should be used for students as intended or they should pay premium business rates while empty. This needs a change in the law and if re-elected I’ll push for new powers for councils to be able to act.Let me know what you think Plymouth.
Posted by Luke Pollard on Monday, November 25, 2019
- Luke wants an investigation on empty student accommodation
- Student blocks are exempt from paying council tax and business rates
- Luke: “If re-elected, I’ll push for new powers for councils to be able to act.”
Luke Pollard is calling on an investigation of purpose-built student accommodation. The inquiry will look at empty student accommodation to be charged a premium rate. Many purpose-built student accommodation blocks, like Crescent Point, are currently vacant. At the moment, student blocks are exempt from paying council tax and business rates.
Luke Pollard, seeking re-election as MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said:
“Students are a fantastic asset to our city. As well as bringing meaningful economic benefits, they add a diversity, richness and vibrancy to our city. I want to see more students in Plymouth because Plymouth is such a brilliant place to study. However as more students come to Plymouth more unscrupulous business practices have sprung up to profit from them.
Crescent Point has been lying empty for way too long. When buildings like this are kept empty they do not contribute to our society. Big Business chooses to leave this building empty and I want to investigate if they should be charged a premium rate on these properties.
We are in the midst of a housing crisis, and with rising homelessness these empty buildings should be used, to help build a fairer society. Or, they should be paying premium rates so they contribute to our local services. if re-elected I’ll push for new powers for councils to be able to act.”
In Plymouth, rough sleeping and homelessness are on the rise. Lying at the heart of the soaring homelessness epidemic is austerity. The cruel, inhumane policies pursued by the Tories have been linked to more than 130,000 death since 2012. Since 2010, austerity has resulted in a real term cut of 59% in support for vulnerable people with their housing.
