Sharing your details: Righmove agents sell home details to tax inspectors
Frightening stuff: according to thisislondon.co.uk, fellow property portal Rightmove.co.uk have given the government access to a vast database of properties, revealing their sale prices and detailed floor plans.
The Valuation Office Agency, part of the Department of HM Revenue & Customs, allocates a council tax band to every home in England and Wales, and will be able to use the data to find out improvements such as double-glazing and conservatories that may increase tax bills.
It is feared this will lead to tax bills rising up to 400 per cent. Homeowners who have used the website were apparently unaware that their details had been sent to the Government without their knowledge, raising serious data protection issues.
Read the full story here.
Comments
That's disgraceful, however, It's what I would expect from a company that's owned by the countries largest estate agents. It's not surprising that the general public have such little faith in agents these days!
Posted by: Jay | December 10, 2006 05:33 PM