A Labour MP has told the House of Commons that she is in favour of a tax regime that would reward landlords willing to commit to longer tenancies.
Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee for the past 17 months and MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch since 2005, last week produced the idea in a question to Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke.
Hillier is a former shadow Home Office minister but has not had any direct government or shadow responsbilities for housing.
However, she asked this question:
“More people in my constituency rent privately than own their own homes and for most of them ownership is a distant or impossible dream. Are the Government considering looking at the supply of private rented housing on longer tenures, perhaps with rent guarantees, and possibly using tax reliefs or other mechanisms the Treasury has in its armoury, to encourage landlords to provide those longer term tenancies and better security for the many private rented sector tenants?”
Gauke’s response agreed that “there is a need for flexibility in terms of tenure” but did not go into further detail nor commit the government to any action. It concentrated instead of reiterating housing policies set out in last month’s Autumn Statement on “building more homes in this country, which is what we need.”
/parliament400x310.png)
Private rental property conditions and the enforcement of regulations by councils...
The government is ruling out any re-think on its proposals to...
Prime Minister David Cameron has dismissed out of hand appeals and...
Letting Agent Today’s Conor Shilling was in the audience of The...
When we talk in general terms about the UK housing market,...
The plight of the nation’s first-time buyers may be the focus...
Dog-owning house buyers who want to live in areas of abundant...
%20-%20IMAGE%20Client%20Accounting%20%E2%80%93%20what%20are%20your%20options.jpg)
The benefits for letting agents to outsource their client accounting is...
Let's be honest – landlords are the lifeblood of any letting...
.png)
I think we can all agree that the National Trading Standards...
Attention estate agents: if you're looking for a bumper Christmas bonus,...
Introduction The lettings market is no stranger to the complexities and challenges...
A client account is essential to your lettings business, but the...
%20(002).png)
In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving property industry, it’s essential that forward-thinking...
In September last year, flatfair, a deposit alternative provider, released their...
%20(002).jpg)
Interim inspections are a necessity if you want to avoid property...
It’s no secret – 2023 is a difficult year for the...
The law is clear – agencies in England, Scotland and Wales...
The Oxfordshire based PropTech founders and software developers of Openview, today...
Houses in Multiple Occupation are making up an increasing percentage of...
A lettings agency has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme...
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched a new Residential...
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched a new Residential...
There’s been at most a one per cent reduction in landlords...
Tenant groups and charities reacted angrily over the Easter weekend to...
Who are you and what does it say on...
Who are you and what does it say on...
Who are you and what does it say on...
Join the conversation
Jump to latest comment and add your reply
There is a word for this sort of reaction but if I used it the moderator would delete my comment.
When are politicians going to understand that many landlords would be only too pleased to offer longer tenancies were it not prohibited by mortgage lenders.
Tenants will also need to remember that longer tenancies work both ways. If someone signs up to a three year contract and has a change in circumstance six months in, then don't expect to just walk away. This is the part they always forget.
Please login to comment