"All property is theft" Proudhon
"Those that Buy and Sell Land, and are landlords, have got it either by Oppression, or Murder, or Theft" The Levellers Manifesto
O dear. I seem to have ruffled a few feathers. Let me try to respond. Firstly my previous posts were mostly based on half remembered things I had read or heard over the years. I would also be ideologically left leaning and think that there is nothing too wrong with sometimes playing devils advocate to stimulate debate, although I should have done a bit of research before making generalised statements that were probably true a few years ago but may not still be applicable today. I seem to have made some incorrect statements of fact which I retract.
I lived in several rented properties in the past and never once had a tenancy agreement, rent book or got a receipt. I checked recently on a few of my old landlords and none of them are on the PRTB online register. My opinion of landlords in general is also probably coloured by the not untypical experience of having deposits not returned for no reason and the inability in the past to do anything about it (legally).
I do not know how many landlords pay tax although I would now accept that it is probable that the majority do today. Would it be reasonable to assume that any landlord paying tax is probably also registered with the PRTB and also that not every registered landlord pays tax? In 2005 there were about 80,000 properties registered although there are estimated to be at least 170,000 rental properties in the state
In 2003, 60,000 declared rental income (although not all paid tax on it), the only figure I could find, which would seem to indicate a certain level of tax evasion. I do not know whether that figure is higher for 2006 and if it is whether enforcement by the Revenue is responsible.
Is an attack on landlords racist? I think that the word racist is used much too frequently these days as a way to stifle discussion and debate. I would consider politicians, landlords, lawyers, estate agents and other privileged groups in our society as well able to defend themselves. I also do not quite see how saying that some landlords evade tax is an attack on landlords that do pay. Saying that some Irishmen abuse children, beat their wives or kill people is not an attack on me even though I am Irish and a man.
Regarding the sharing of information with Revenue on rent allowance payments to landlords I remembered a discussion on the issue from a few years ago and assumed that it was still the case that payment details were not passed on. (the justification given by the Fianna Fail politician at the time was that landlords would be far less likely to accept RA tenants if by doing so they brought themselves to the attention of Revenue) It seems that this is no longer the case and I was incorrect in stating that it was. I am fairly sure however that registration with the PTRB is still not checked before payments are made