Published: 30/07/2015
Copeland Council is ensuring a fair and equal system for all council tax payers in the borough by cracking down on businesses who try to avoid paying for their commercial waste collection.
The council is reminding those who make revenue from holiday lets that these premises are businesses, and waste collected is not domestic but commercial.
Copeland Council has identified around 15 holiday letting properties which have not been declared as businesses, where the owners either knowingly or unknowingly have been taking advantage of the council’s domestic waste collections.
Under UK legislation all businesses that produce waste must make separate arrangements and pay for a ‘trade’ waste collection.
Coun Dave Banks, portfolio holder for customers and communities, said: “The domestic and trade waste system is in place to ensure everyone pays their fair share towards covering the costs of running waste collection services.
“Holiday lets are just like any other business – the owner must pay for collection of the waste generated by the business.
“Some people have, for whatever reason, not told us that their property is being used as a holiday let –now we have sought them out and we’ll be insisting they pay for their collections.
“This is only fair on other taxpayers, whose council tax is in effect subsidising businesses.”
The owners of the holiday lets are being reminded in writing that they are running a business, and must make arrangements for a chargeable trade waste collection service for their properties.
Owners of other holiday lets should also get in touch with the council on 0845 054 8600 to make sure they are properly registered as holiday lets and not homes, and to arrange payment if necessary.
Ends
