Rightmove in 'multi million pound deal' with council ...

27 July 2009

4156 Reads
14 Comments

Written by rosalind renshaw

Rightmove is at the centre of news that the Labour Government has been secretly assessing homes with a view to raising council tax next year, if it wins the election.

According to the Mail on Sunday, which obtained documents under the Freedom of Information Act, the Government is planning to impose a ‘stealth tax’ on properties with features such as patios, conservatories, balconies and views.

The Valuation Office Agency is compiling a database which could mean millions of houses moving up bands. It has so far assessed about half of all homes in Britain.

According to the newspaper, the Government, which has spent £13m on the scheme, has “secretly renewed a multi-million pound deal between the VOA and leading property website Rightmove to access sale prices and floorplans”.

The report continues: “The Treasury refused to say how much information the VOA received from Rightmove.”

Comments

- burf
I think your missing the point!!! It says IF Labour win the election!!! More chance of me shagging Cameron Diaz!!!
- 04 August 2009 09:06 AM
- Dave Priddey (Moltons)
To be clear, if I was you I would reserve judgement on Aaron Turner.

I was at a business forum event in London last week hosted by James Caan - Chairman of Look4aProperty - and boy are they working on something that will knock the market for 6 and help agents!

Turner actually is a genuine guy with some impressive people around him.

I listened to James Caan and I have to say he is very motivating to listen to.

Aaron Turner - it seems is about to surprise everyone soon after hearing what James Said at the Conference!
- 01 August 2009 08:12 AM
- Aaron "cheap shot" Turner
The last person I would ever take advice from is that man. Once again he has clearly shown how cheap and unprofessional he is by manipulating the story. Anyone know yet if he has found the £20 million he guaranteed his own customers he had spent including the TV campaign he had already booked?
- 30 July 2009 09:28 AM
- Dave Priddey
blog.look4aproperty.com

Check this out!

Aaron Turner has already stated it is a disgrace and I agree with him, as will all agents.

Rightmove are con artists!
- 29 July 2009 20:53 PM
- JustPassin
Plenty of info around on this. See Hansard www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090202/text/90202w0012.htm, or here; www.tonybaldry.org.uk/issuerecord.jsp?ID=85
- 28 July 2009 13:41 PM
- Mr Brightmove
If this is true and is confirmed as suggested in Rightmove's Company Accounts then this is scandalous. Recommend all agents obtain a written indemnity from Rightmove to the effect that they wont sell data to third parties including the government.
- 28 July 2009 12:17 PM
- Simon Felps
Anyone think John is right, are the Software boys making out of us for what is standard functionality?
- 27 July 2009 14:47 PM
- John
All web and software sell dat- whow much do the software houses make just letting us order HIP from a supplier on the system? Probably more than we get, certainly more if it does not sell.
- 27 July 2009 13:09 PM
- Stinky Pete
All houses have views, some are just nicer than others!

The government will change council tax based on energy efficiency before long - based on EPCs from sales and lettings.
- 27 July 2009 11:46 AM
- JustPassin
Oh Richard, your naivety is so refreshing in this cynical age. Most of the data needed for this project is not available via the Land Registry. Also the fact that Rightmove sell your data to the Government is well documented in Rightmove's own company accounts.
- 27 July 2009 11:07 AM
- terry jarnell
a) We all know this government is intent on peeing our money up the wall as fast as it can.
They have given billions to the banks so why not a few million to Rightmove?
b) 'If it wins the election'.....!!!
- 27 July 2009 11:06 AM
- Sidney
Surely our trusted Government and Rightmove have broke n the Data protection Act have they not.

Will anyone be send to the Tower? No they will hold and enquiry and six months later say they have learnt lessons.

All employees are equal except some are more thatn others............
- 27 July 2009 10:20 AM
- richard
Boring rightmove bashing again. Why woukld the gov, even this shower, not access that data for free from the Land Reg? Guys work out when a story has been spun, don't belive everything in the paper, unless its the Sun then its true.
- 27 July 2009 10:08 AM
- JustPassin
So, to recap: Estate agents pay large sums of money to give the details of clients' homes to Rightmove who then sell them to the Government.
- 27 July 2009 09:32 AM