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This is a brilliant example of the power of good investigative journalism! Congratulations.
It feels like much of this could be avoided by adjusting legislation to shift the burden of responsibility to the landlords of these units.
If landlords were ultimately liable for unpaid tax from their commercial renters (even if only in the high-traffic zones most prone to this type of behaviour), then it would incentivise a great deal more due diligence and selectiveness in who they allowed to rent their properties.
Businesses do fail. My proposal would be a two/three strike rule. If two businesses fail, leaving behind unpaid taxes, at the same address within a five year period then HMRC and councils do automatic immediate checks on the third.
Completely agree. It's mystifying why things like business rates (and council tax generally) aren't payable by the building owner. There's an asset to cover the liability and would surely reduce compliance costs on chasing up unpaid bills.
Great work, and it's good to have friends and readers in high places and palaces.
I'm reminded of a story from the 2000s when metal thefts were a huge scourge, made possible by scrapyards turning a blind eye to who was weighing in. As the government tightened legislation bringing in end to end provenance of the metals. One old style yard continued to operate. One morning as the yard was opening a swathe of police and trading standards arrived accompanied by a third team. The owner stood around nonchalantly as the police and trading standards started their work and then noticing the third team asked “Oi, who are you?” “HMRC” came the reply and the blood drained from the owner’s face. Customs and Excise have far more sweeping powers than the Met and the local authorities.
Congratulations and well done on tirelessly reporting on this topic!!
As someone who works near Oxford Street, I can’t help but notice one thing:
The beautiful Marylebone High Street, just 2minutes walk away from Oxford Street is not plagued by the ridiculous tax-evading American Candy/Tourist Traps.
I believe that Marylebone is managed by the Howard de Walden estate.
What is this Marylebone landlord doing that is SO DIFFERENT than those landlords across Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street that has resulted in no vermin shops (ie American Candy/Tourist Traps shops)? I’d love to know as the difference is extreme!!
This is where it would help if local authorities had money to buy retail units. Down in Montpellier in the south of France where my family is, the city has been buying units in the city centre to have better control over the retail selection. That has been going hand in hand with increased administrative and police scrutiny of the often-dodgy businesses that plague certain parts of town.
30 years ago, Marylebone High Street was dismal - many units were empty, even Sainsbury's and the Post Office had fled. Most of the land and properties belong to the Howard de Walden Estate - a family that has deep historical roots. They hired an inspirational management team that created a distinctive upmarket 'Village' environment. They obviously realised that UK high streets were all becoming boring clones full of national and international chains. Marylebone, (later emulated by Primrose Hill and St John's Wood High Street) only permitted retailers and restaurateurs of character and distinctiveness. Avoiding the cloned crap has been a very successful strategy, resulting in an affluent, culturally popular 'urban village'. In addition it hosts a hugely successful, very diverse annual street and music festival, a thriving well-managed Sunday London Farmers Market, and introduced delightful plantings of shrubs, flowers and trees along the pavement. Careful thought has gone into the evolution of 'Marylebone Village', something sadly lacking elsewhere. Most landlords and local authorities are concerned with nothing more than grabbing a fast buck, with absolutely no concern given to creating a pleasing environment for residents and visitors alike.
Surely there’s a philanthropist out there who can gift London Centric £5m as a reward for their campaigning against tax-evading gift shops/even to pay for their security for life?
Dan Tomlinson used to be a local councillor at Tower Hamlets, and I really admired his work there on LTNs. A loss for TH Labour Party, but glad he has gone on to bigger and better things!
Brilliant work! It gives such a splendid start to the weekend to know that the skill and dedication of you and your team been so effective, and, that you’ve got HMRC and various MPs on the case too. Investigating these devious and fugitive criminals requires a skill set greater than most of us possess as well as the persistence of a web weaving spider. Well done.
So glad that I’m a bragging “founding” member of this, a force of good. Still watching over you Jim, we are all too close to an origin story that turns us into James Bond supervillains :D
Would you consider amending your graphics to use Pascal Case for accessibility? Or alt text to describe them? (The captions on the photo work well to that effect)
The reporting's most useful move is rejecting the empty-front myth and following the revenue model instead. If a shop can keep the stock and location while cycling through new legal identities, the unit of enforcement cannot be the company name alone. Till data, landlords, and continuity of inventory may reveal more than the latest Companies House filing.
I’m surprised JkR and her very ambitious agent Neil Blair would have more to say, and would have wanted to enforce or mend the contracts to bring things to a head
This is a brilliant example of the power of good investigative journalism! Congratulations.
It feels like much of this could be avoided by adjusting legislation to shift the burden of responsibility to the landlords of these units.
If landlords were ultimately liable for unpaid tax from their commercial renters (even if only in the high-traffic zones most prone to this type of behaviour), then it would incentivise a great deal more due diligence and selectiveness in who they allowed to rent their properties.
Businesses do fail. My proposal would be a two/three strike rule. If two businesses fail, leaving behind unpaid taxes, at the same address within a five year period then HMRC and councils do automatic immediate checks on the third.
Completely agree. It's mystifying why things like business rates (and council tax generally) aren't payable by the building owner. There's an asset to cover the liability and would surely reduce compliance costs on chasing up unpaid bills.
Excellent reporting
Congratulations Jim and to your team. Absolutely worth paying a subscription for this and all of the other outstanding journalism you provide.
I second that!
Great work, and it's good to have friends and readers in high places and palaces.
I'm reminded of a story from the 2000s when metal thefts were a huge scourge, made possible by scrapyards turning a blind eye to who was weighing in. As the government tightened legislation bringing in end to end provenance of the metals. One old style yard continued to operate. One morning as the yard was opening a swathe of police and trading standards arrived accompanied by a third team. The owner stood around nonchalantly as the police and trading standards started their work and then noticing the third team asked “Oi, who are you?” “HMRC” came the reply and the blood drained from the owner’s face. Customs and Excise have far more sweeping powers than the Met and the local authorities.
FAO HMRC press officer reading the comments
Stopping criminals by getting the tax man to come for them goes right back to Al Capone…
I am very glad to have followed your publication since the very beginning and recently having gone for a subscription as well.
This meat and potatoes journalism is what makes up democracy as well.
Congratulations and well done on tirelessly reporting on this topic!!
As someone who works near Oxford Street, I can’t help but notice one thing:
The beautiful Marylebone High Street, just 2minutes walk away from Oxford Street is not plagued by the ridiculous tax-evading American Candy/Tourist Traps.
I believe that Marylebone is managed by the Howard de Walden estate.
What is this Marylebone landlord doing that is SO DIFFERENT than those landlords across Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street that has resulted in no vermin shops (ie American Candy/Tourist Traps shops)? I’d love to know as the difference is extreme!!
Landlord chooses not to rent to dodgy shops due to putting long term quality of area and sustainable rents over quick profits. Simple.
This is where it would help if local authorities had money to buy retail units. Down in Montpellier in the south of France where my family is, the city has been buying units in the city centre to have better control over the retail selection. That has been going hand in hand with increased administrative and police scrutiny of the often-dodgy businesses that plague certain parts of town.
30 years ago, Marylebone High Street was dismal - many units were empty, even Sainsbury's and the Post Office had fled. Most of the land and properties belong to the Howard de Walden Estate - a family that has deep historical roots. They hired an inspirational management team that created a distinctive upmarket 'Village' environment. They obviously realised that UK high streets were all becoming boring clones full of national and international chains. Marylebone, (later emulated by Primrose Hill and St John's Wood High Street) only permitted retailers and restaurateurs of character and distinctiveness. Avoiding the cloned crap has been a very successful strategy, resulting in an affluent, culturally popular 'urban village'. In addition it hosts a hugely successful, very diverse annual street and music festival, a thriving well-managed Sunday London Farmers Market, and introduced delightful plantings of shrubs, flowers and trees along the pavement. Careful thought has gone into the evolution of 'Marylebone Village', something sadly lacking elsewhere. Most landlords and local authorities are concerned with nothing more than grabbing a fast buck, with absolutely no concern given to creating a pleasing environment for residents and visitors alike.
Surely there’s a philanthropist out there who can gift London Centric £5m as a reward for their campaigning against tax-evading gift shops/even to pay for their security for life?
You joke but if anyone can spare £10k, no strings attached, I’ll stick a reporter on this full time for three months. Who knows what they’d find!
Journalism is both incredible cheap in terms of impact you can achieve with limited funds spent well…. And still incredibly under funded.
Is there a way for us to give smaller donations? (For those already subscribed)
This is such important work. Journalism at its best. Well done. 👏
Great journalism. Congratulations
Dan Tomlinson used to be a local councillor at Tower Hamlets, and I really admired his work there on LTNs. A loss for TH Labour Party, but glad he has gone on to bigger and better things!
Brilliant work! It gives such a splendid start to the weekend to know that the skill and dedication of you and your team been so effective, and, that you’ve got HMRC and various MPs on the case too. Investigating these devious and fugitive criminals requires a skill set greater than most of us possess as well as the persistence of a web weaving spider. Well done.
I am so very pleased that some action against this blatant fraud is finally being taken. Thank you for your persistence!
I’m so pleased that these people are finally being sorted out. It’s a disgrace that this has been allowed to go on for so long. Well done!
So glad that I’m a bragging “founding” member of this, a force of good. Still watching over you Jim, we are all too close to an origin story that turns us into James Bond supervillains :D
Would you consider amending your graphics to use Pascal Case for accessibility? Or alt text to describe them? (The captions on the photo work well to that effect)
The reporting's most useful move is rejecting the empty-front myth and following the revenue model instead. If a shop can keep the stock and location while cycling through new legal identities, the unit of enforcement cannot be the company name alone. Till data, landlords, and continuity of inventory may reveal more than the latest Companies House filing.
I’m surprised JkR and her very ambitious agent Neil Blair would have more to say, and would have wanted to enforce or mend the contracts to bring things to a head