Landlords and property seen as purely investment tools to blame?

An article today by DailyMail online reports on the increasing generation of rent figures and how the Conservatives are looking to tackle this growing concern with an interest in increasing their own popularity with younger adults across the country.

Certainly today, property is far more of an investment product over being actually a home, prices driven up purely on what they can earn people / businesses with every single possible penny squeezed from them and an increasing amount of genuine first time buyers being forced out of the market and many times struggling to afford their rent.

Under the plans, landlords would be encouraged to sell homes to tenants by being capital gains tax break.

So they would not have to pay the 28 per cent tax on their profits if the buyers had lived in the property for three years or more.

This new scheme is initially looking at tempting landlords to sell their property portfolios with a bait of zero capital gains? Sounds a bit dodgy to me and how is that fair? What the easy solution would be of course, though many Tory MP’s have property portfolios and would not want it, is a straight and easy to understand level of tax on 2nd homes. If a landlord has has a portfolio then they are scaled up taxes so eventually after say five property it is simply uneconomical to own anymore. This would flood the property market, cause a correction in house prices, enable more genuine buyers to purchase and own a home and everyone is happy – Of course except those who see property as a business or those in rental property that should not be, ie illegal immigration.

Theresa May has pledged to get the country building again as she makes tackling the housing crisis a key plank of her premiership.Plank being the operative word here I think…

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Buying a Home? What you need to know about asbestos

Asbestos is a well-known issue in UK housing – but while it’s rightly treated with caution, it doesn’t need to cause alarm. With the right advice and professional guidance, it’s a manageable problem that shouldn’t stand in the way of purchasing a dream home. Used widely in construction until 1999, asbestos is often found in…
Read More
Breaking News

Hodge Bank introduces 80% LTV on Interest Only Mortgages, helping borrowers maximise their affordability

Specialist lender Hodge has today announced it will accept 80% Loan to Value (LTV) on Interest Only Mortgages to help borrowers expand their affordability. The criteria enhancement is the latest in a raft of changes introduced by the lender in a bid to make its underwriting as flexible as possible. This change applies to Hodge’s…
Read More
Breaking News

The end of the ‘Forever Home’? 63 per cent of young homeowners prioritise flexibility and renovation potential over permanence

63 per cent of younger homeowners (18-34 year olds) find the ‘forever home’ concept less important than older generations Nearly half (45 per cent) of the same group of homeowners expect to move home within the next five years, embracing a flexible ‘Right Now Home’ model 23 per cent of 18-34 year olds view their…
Read More
Breaking News

Ignoring these simple winter property maintenance tasks could cost you big time

The latest research from nationwide cash buying company and quick sale specialists, Springbok Properties, has revealed that failing to complete some of the most common winter home maintenance tasks could cost homeowners thousands of pounds, as ignored issues turn into major repair jobs over the colder months. Springbok Properties analysed a series of essential winter…
Read More
how to present your property for sale
Breaking News

Half of first-time buyers delaying until after the Budget

The latest research from eXp UK has revealed that almost half of first-time buyers (47%) have paused their homebuying plans until after the Autumn Budget, as uncertainty around potential tax and housing policy changes continues to weigh on buyer confidence. However, it’s not short-term tax tweaks they’re waiting for. The survey of aspiring homeowners, commissioned…
Read More
Breaking News

Moneyfacts Average Mortgage Rate dips below 5%

The Moneyfacts Average Mortgage Rate has dropped below 5%. The latest analysis by Moneyfactscompare.co.uk reveals how the rate has changed over time.  Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said: “Borrowers will no doubt be thrilled to see mortgage rates drop, particularly the millions due to come off a cheap fixed rate before the year is…
Read More