To think that Boris bringing back the 'Right to buy' scheme from the 80s is a terrible idea

[somewhereoverthechipshop]

Just this really. I think it's a slap in the face for all those private renters who cannot afford to buy a home, and just a horrible idea.
Boris Johnson mulls a new Right to Buy scheme as housebuilding hits the curb (cityam.com)

Not sure if link above works, but you can google it.
Evidently he is 'mulling over' the idea of bringing back Margaret Thatcher's scheme from the late 80s that decimated this country's council housing stock.
Just wondered what other people thought about it?

Much as I hate to appear to stick up for landlords, the tax rate is exactly the same. I’d like to see it double.

@Blossomtoes

Only the headline rate. They can offset costs against tax.

I can't offset my work clothes or commuting costs.

To be fair, BTL landlords are becoming increasingly unpopular. Even amongst homeowners who see their adult children being gouged for rent to live in shoddy housing. Any political party could have a field day upping the tax take from landlords. Maybe that's how we would pay for Covid and solve the shortage of houses for sale at reasonable prices. Two birds with one stone.

In that case the incumbent govt would have to make a massive investment to provide enough housing, and do it sharpish

do we see that happening ?

private renting has a place. Hammer the slum landlords with 100+ properties housing 6 families in one house and providing substandard accomodation.

leave the small btl landlords alone who are just supplementing their pension because the average savings they have give them fuck-all return. The majority of them are ok… as usual the bad apples taint the whole barrel and the whole industry gets punished

Some folk really need to apply a bit of critical thinking

Correct as usual, though sadly the concept isn't always popular; apparently it's much more fun to join the "all LLs are bastards" thing rather than focus on where real change is needed

And change is needed, but IME a scattergun approach is unlikely to help it along

And neither will the massive hammer to crack a small unit approach work

the housing crisis has been several decades in the making and blaming the small landlords is easy, helped along by the gutter press and those few entitled fuckwits who want everything for nothing

it’s not a quick fix and taxing the fuck out of honest small landlords is way off the mark if people want a viable, lasting solution (which we all do, right)

Small * nut

They have to pay capital gains tax when they sell though. For properties bought 20 or even 10 years ago, that’s a big dent in the profit.

They have to pay capital gains tax when they sell though. For properties bought 20 or even 10 years ago, that’s a big dent in the profit.

They can get around this by living in it for 6 months, or leaving it empty fir 6 months and claiming to live there.

The housing crisis has been several decades in the making and blaming the small landlords is easy, helped along by the gutter press and those few entitled fuckwits who want everything for nothing

Quite - but it's an appealing headline for those who don't want to think further than "soak the bastards" or to consider what the consequences might be

As with so many much-trumpeted "reforms", it's sometimes wise to be careful what's wished for

They can get around this by living in it for 6 months, or leaving it empty fir 6 months and claiming to live there

This is not true

They can get around this by living in it for 6 months, or leaving it empty fir 6 months and claiming to live there

This is not true

I didn’t think it was. HMRC has a record of your address, they’d see through that in a heartbeat.

It is true. I know someone who does it. She basically has all her post go there ie council tax, tax records etc. perfectly legit. Her ex HMRC tax accountant advised her to do it.

You “know someone”

Aye, right

And these greedy sharks with 100+ properties ? How do they dodge the CGT then ? Pretend to move into all of them ?

Apply yourself, ffs and stop spreading bollocks.

Ooh touched a nerve 🤣

You didn’t touch a nerve. You’re talking out of your arse - or your friend’s lying.

Pitiful

No I'm not.

Why do you get so angry when random internet posters disagree with you?

Right to buy was ended in wales in January 2019.

the uk is not just England….

No such thing as an "honest" landlord. Profiting off someone who has no choice is never an honest living.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I agree. There’s no sense of pride or a true sense of satisfaction in that career choice, I mean that is if you can even call it a career.

Has anyone read the poem the man in the mirror? Kind of makes me think of this thread.

Selling things off that are not his to sell. Dreadful. Like selling TV channels off that are public. How can they do that?