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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave this here when I can't reply

52 replies

Angelicinnocent · 31/05/2017 21:26

Ok so I'm going away for a week and am waiting to board the plane but I've just heard about something I felt I should share even though I won't be able to respond.

Labour's manifesto includes the option to introduce a Land Value Tax if they get into power.

If they go ahead with this, it could treble council tax for anyone who owns their home, including pensioners on fixed incomes. It doesn't just apply to big plots of land, it includes the land that your house stands on and any little bit of garden that you have. Could very easily lead to pensioners having to sell their homes for little flats etc. Have a look on the internet and see what it could mean.

I never thought anything could make the Tories "dementia" tax look like the best option but this does.

OP posts:
DesignedForLife · 31/05/2017 21:30

If introduced we are screwed. We have a freak large plot with a tiny inexpensive house in a cheap area. We are too skint to afford clothes right now, no idea how we could manage an increase in tax.

shivermytimbers · 31/05/2017 21:30

Is this a backlash because Labour kicked Tory butt in the debate?

abbsisspartacus · 31/05/2017 21:31

Umm I don't think it means that at all plus most new builds have postage stamp gardens anyway so good for the building industry?

Covfefe · 31/05/2017 21:32

My family would be more screwed with no NHS and shit schools.

youarenotkiddingme · 31/05/2017 21:36

Yep. Prefer good schools and a health care I can rely on.

peaceloveandbiscuits · 31/05/2017 21:46

I'd rather have an NHS than a garden.
Under the tories I'm not likely to have either.

harderandharder2breathe · 31/05/2017 21:52

yeah I'd rather have enough teachers and nurses tbh

I think it might actually be a good thing if single or couple pensioners in huge family homes have an incentive to downsize.

AgentProvocateur · 31/05/2017 21:57

I'm happy to pay more for my relatively big house if it means there's an NHS for people that need it.

donquixotedelamancha · 31/05/2017 22:23

"If they go ahead with this, it could treble council tax for anyone who owns their home, including pensioners on fixed incomes"

No it couldn't. Its not even a firm policy for implementation.

The firm policy is they think council tax needs reform (does anyone seriously disagree with this).

The suggestion is a tax on the unimproved (i.e. unrelated to house price) value of land.
The wild speculation about possible costs is just nonsense.

Neutral website, that fact checks stories, here.

ilovegin112 · 31/05/2017 22:42

I would like an NHS that doesn't put a woman a week after having chemo in with a lady with d&v plus brings all its food from
Manchester but with labour I will have to get used to it

Naturebabe · 01/06/2017 07:01

This is VERY worrying and putting me of Corbyn slightly - will discriminate against people in rural areas and farm owners...

abbsisspartacus · 01/06/2017 09:05

It's not even a policy it's just an idea all parties are considering and have been for some time

Babbaganush · 01/06/2017 09:29

Yes op YABU - you have posted a scare-story!!! Labour have said they want to look at council tax reform, one of the ideas being put forward for consideration is a land tax............

GoodGirlGoneWrong · 01/06/2017 10:06

We'd be screwed our council tax went up by 10% this year. And it's been a pain in the arse to find the extra cash each month.

If it trebles we'd be fucked. We'd be fucked even if it doubles to be fair. Our wages are stagnant and our bills are going up and up.

Saying that I think this country is buggered for the next few years whoever gets to be prime minister none of they have a clue.

myusernameisgeneric · 01/06/2017 11:19

You do know that current council tax is based on the value of your house? This system if introduced would REPLACE council tax and would essentially look at the value of the land rather than the house. So basically looking at how much space you take up rather than how big your house is. I can't really see why it's touted as so evil. The only flaw I see is new builds trying to have tiny footprints to reduce expenses when they are crammed enough already. It's not going to triple your council tax that's utter bollocks. It's also not a set thing just a consideration. Can you imagine the backlash if labour tripled the bills of the poorest in society? They'd never get in again,

MissBax · 01/06/2017 11:23

I'd rather have an NHS, living minimum wage, affordable housing and free education for my children than worry about that.

QuintessentialShadow · 01/06/2017 11:24

uuummm, I think it applies to unimproved land, and applies to commercial land or business use:

QuintessentialShadow · 01/06/2017 11:25

Sorry posted too quickly.

iea.org.uk/blog/the-case-for-a-land-value-tax-0

Seems it does not apply to private properties and gardens.

QuintessentialShadow · 01/06/2017 11:26

I posted WAY too quickly.

More info here?
www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/final-draft-lvt-report_2.pdf

Ravenblack · 01/06/2017 11:34

I have no idea why people keep bashing MAY for not coming to the debates. It's not mandatory and it's all just bloody Americanised bollocks. Just because May is not keen on them, and may not be too good at being 'grilled,' that doesn't mean she doesn't make a good leader.

This thing (land value tax,) sounds awful if is IS true. Wouldn't surprise me though as Corbyn is desperate to punish people who have worked hard for that they have.

This, coupled with his and Abbot's laughable (maths) gaffes, him promising a unicorn and 10 million pounds for every British citizen, and him wanting to take away our defence (Trident) and be BFFs with terrorists who hate our guts make May the preferred option.

Don't be fooled into thinking Corbyn is super popular. Many people thought Labour were going to win last time (based on social media blabberings,) and look what happened. A Tory landslide. Thing is, most people who support Conservatives are keeping quiet, because they get slaughtered by the rabid left whenever they even attempt to say something positive about them.

Corbyn is genuinely a nice man, but is he a fit leader for the UK? I don't think so.

HarrietSchulenberg · 01/06/2017 11:55

I take it you haven't seen Corbyn speak, Raven? And what is this rabid, left wing press of which you speak? The Socialist Worker paper? The vast majority of mainstream press is rabidly right wing, even the ones that purport to be moderate.

peaceout · 01/06/2017 12:02

Land value tax
Bring it on!
That'll stop money being hoarded into property

caroldecker · 01/06/2017 12:03

Quintessential This will apply to private properties and gardens. The 'unimproved land' bit is about the valuation.
Basically, under council tax, improving your home, or a better school increasing the value of your home, increases your council tax band (or would do if they re-valued everything). This discourages investment/building.
Taxing the land based on its 'unimproved value' avoids this issue. It potential encourages people to sell land for building as it costs them to own it.
This is actually a very sensible tax as it is unavoidable and, if set correctly, prevents the hoarding of building land by developers and encourages councils to free up building land. It should also significantly decrease house prices.
However, because this will cost the virtue signalling classes, it has not been spelled out in the manifesto. If Corbyn wins, it will happen, if only to fill the £11bn (minimum) hole in his manifesto costings.

DancingLedge · 01/06/2017 12:04

It's NOT policy, its a discussion.

Tories are rattled, scaremongering going on.