I was wrong yesterday

[Kathyjelly]

Yesterday I said stamp duty had been removed from properties under £250,000 for everyone. Now having read the small print it seems that it's only if you have never owned a house before. Now apart from being a nightmare to manage (different countries, maiden names etc) I can't believe that they are including houseboats and caravans in that definition. What is that all about?

I have a particular reason to be worried. I inherited an old caravan a while ago and since I didn't want it, I gave it to a particularly skint friend rather than pay someone to take it away. It's an elderly & pretty manky caravan. Now it seems that by doing so, I have scuppered the tiny opportunity he had of buying a flat for himself and his 5yo daughter.

Can someone explain to me why Labour would make such an exception. I can't see why they would pick on caravan owners. How is it ok for Mandelson to lie to his mortgage company to buy a massive great house and yet owning a damp £500 caravan excludes you from a tax break? It's so spiteful. Am really upset.

[longfingernails]

A caravan is classed as a home? Really?

I thought someone yesterday said you were a first-time buyer if you had been on the Land Registry before.

[Blu]

Surely 'caraven' means more the 'mobile home' type that you could actually live in? Not a small towing job?

[Kathyjelly]

It definitely includes caravans and houseboats but not sure of the definition of caravans. It's nothing to do with the land registry because it applies to "a home anywhere in the world".

I've got to find out. Yes, maybe it's static caravans only. Although that would still be pretty mean. The person involved has been saving for 9 years and now I might have fucked it up for them.