Capital Gains Tax relief to encourage longer tenancies and sales to tenants in private rented housing, RLA response

Responding to proposals from the Conservative Think Tank, ‘Onward’ today for Capital Gains Tax relief to encourage longer tenancies and sales to tenants in private rented housing, David Smith, Policy Director for the Residential Landlords Association said:

“We welcome Onward’s acceptance of the need for more positive taxation in the rented sector which the RLA has long argued for. Indeed, last year, we suggested using Capital Gains Tax reliefs in a similar way to that being proposed today.

“Since then, a report by academics at Cambridge University for the RLA has argued that it is not clear whether a reduction in the rates at which Capital Gains Tax is applied would incentivise landlords to sell their properties to sitting tenants. A more suitable approach would be a tax relief on rental income for the provision of longer tenancies with a refund on the stamp duty levy for additional properties where a landlord is prepared to sell a property to a sitting tenant.”

David Smith continued:

“Where Onward is wrong is in its call for landlords to disinvest from the sector. With the demand for private rented homes showing no signs of abating, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies today warning of the difficulties many young people have affording a home of their own, to choke off the supply of rental homes would leave many young people stranded and continuing to rely on the home of mum and dad for a place to live.

“The Chancellor should use his budget to scrap the stamp duty levy on additional properties where landlords are prepared to invest in property adding to the net supply of homes. This could include bringing empty homes back into use, new build properties or converting larger properties into smaller, more affordable units. To tax new housing supply given the current housing crisis we face is simply ludicrous.”

Source of information RLA

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

How to secure a rented home if you used to pay rent up front

One change that has come into effect under the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) is that landlords may no longer accept more than one month’s rent in advance of a tenancy beginning. Previously, there was no limit to how much rent tenants could pay up front to secure a property, which was particularly helpful in certain…
Read More
Kerb appeal
Breaking News

Whoever Leads Britain Next Must Focus on Growth, Housing and Opportunity

Neil Louth – Group Executive Director, LRG and CEO, Acorn Group From my perspective, the question is less about who occupies Number 10 and more about what they do once they get there. Whether it is Sir Keir Starmer continuing in office, Andy Burnham emerging as a future challenger, or someone else entirely, the next…
Read More
Breaking News

Biggest Shake-up of Home Buying in Decades

Families and first-time buyers set to save time, money, and stress under major changes to the homebuying process – supporting the next generation and those locked out by a slow and unfair system New sales packs to ensure buyers have the information they need upfront, earlier binding agreements, and digital tools will halve the number…
Read More
Breaking News

More than half of home movers try D.AI.Y

but 38% say it gave them bad advice   The latest research from Yopa has found that 57% of home movers have engaged in D.AI.Y, to help maintain, repair and improve their homes, although more than a third have been given advice that later turned out to be incorrect. Yopa surveyed recent homebuyers to understand…
Read More
Breaking News

Home buying journey is about to become unrecognisable

Claire Van der Zant, CEO of Novus Strategy, comments on the Government’s homebuying reform “The industry has been very vocal in its demands for mandation and this is the most impactful example yet of government intervention that will drive the change everyone has been asking for. What it will mean is the complete reorganisation of…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75%

The Bank of England has announced its decision to hold the base rate at 3.75%. This decision comes as a result of wider economic uncertainty and inflation (CPI) increasing to 3.3% in March and remaining above the Bank’s 2.0% target. Here are some thoughts from within the property industry.   Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert…
Read More