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.