Summer Budget 2015 – Landlords Reactions

>Darren Bell

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/miltonkeynescouncil/aspx/ProjectManage/2264

Yes, MK wants bids for a 4 month duration project to

1. Carry out an independent Review of Homelessness: as required by Section 1(a) of the Homelessness Act 2002;
2. Write & consult widely on a Response to Homelessness Strategy for Milton Keynes: as required by Section 1(b) of the Homelessness Act 2002.

4 months!

That gravy train has got biscuit wheels!

Oh ...no HPCrash it seems ? ....just stay on the log for a few more years maybe.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/11970421/The-biggest-house-price-rises-by-2020.html?a

Article in Landlord Today:

"New research by Gocompare.com claims that first-time buyers need on average a minimum household income of £50,000 to purchase a house in the UK.

The figures look at 65 towns and cities across the UK and show the minimum first-time buyers need to earn to get a mortgage, based upon a 90% mortgage and affordable monthly housing costs."

So how many FTBs will be able to buy as a result of GO's Clause 24?

Full article here: https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/11/first-time-buyers-need-to-earn-50-000-to-get-on-the-property-ladder

I've just seen, on Vanessa's Property Tribes, that the House of Lords is investigating the Housing Crisis, and wanting written views.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/economic-affairs-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/economics-of-the-uk-housing-market/

Looking at the link..it appears it's the Economic Affairs Committee

It has been a bit quiet on the Forum lately, but that doesn't mean people haven't been very active - I know of certain people who have been doing a hell of a lot. So I thought I'd just mention how I've spent the last two hours - not to boast, but in the hope that others will think - 'ah, but she should have done this or that' and then they might do that. So:

I just sent emails either with the link to my open letter to Siobhain McDonagh:

http://www.property118.com/why-does-labour-want-to-force-out-tenants-on-benefits-to-make-room-for-tory-owner-occupiers/82058/

and/or with Richard Dyson's articles to: Michael Deacon (political satirist at Telegraph), Victoria Bischoff (journalist at Mail who used to write anti-landlord articles but has gone quiet), Rosie Taylor (Daily Mail journalist who wrote one or two pro-landlord sentences once upon a time), James Coney (ditto), Kevin Maguire (lefty Mirror journalist who seemed to be very pally with Corbyn on the campaign trail), Louise Eccles (Daily Mail), Matthew Syed (Times journalist who is sometimes on the telly), David Budworth (Times - wrote that one pro-landlord article), Jeff Prestridge (Express - called C24 'shameful') and also to the newsrooms at the Guardian, Observer, Mirror, Independent, FT and Metro. I've asked the FT to also start a campaign, that being a financial paper they should be doing something against the 'lunatic tax.' Also wrote to Chris Bryant, Merthyr MP, who isn't camera shy but is a bit of a maverick - think he might be on the front bench (I've tried a mixture of flattery and agent provocateure with him). And I have now run out of steam.
Yesterday I wrote to another ten or so journalists and landlord organisations. One of my aims at the moment is to get the Labour Party to see sense regarding what this is going to do to tenants.

If others want to share what they have been up to,please do. It's not a matter of boasting, but perhaps encouraging others to follow suit.

Reply to the comment left by "Ros ." at "05/11/2015 - 20:52":

Fantastic work Ros, keep it up.

I've been a bit quiet in the forum in recent weeks too but that's because I've been busy campaigning elsewhere too.

I've been copying and pasting the text of many of the open letters posted on Property118 into various Facebook groups and then adding a link to Property118 at the end.

Earlier this week I was in Scotland presenting to a group of 600 landlords. My speech was supposed to be about selling BTL property but at least half of it was educating people on the tax changes. Only 20% of the attendees had signed the petition despite being full time landlords who had purchased a ticket and taken time out to attend a full day conference. I'd like to think I left them in no doubt about the gravity of the situation.

I've had dozens of meetings over the last few months with accountants, solicitors and barristers with a view to putting cost effective solutions together for landlords if this lunacy in government prevails. Please see the link below.

I wrote to Rob Marris MP yesterday and received a response this morning. Our exchange of emails is available in this article on Property118. I have replied tonight to each of his comments and await a reply.

http://www.property118.com/clause-24-and-housing-choice-an-open-letter-to-labour-mp-rob-marris/82097/

Thinking about the petition, I don't care too much about the it now if I'm honest. To me it has been largely about raising awareness. I just look at it now and then in a train-spotting sort of way. I would still encourage anyone to sign who hasn't, but I think our current work with MPs, journalists, posting the open letters and so on is far more important.

And I still haven't looked at the Lords development - as that could be our new priority. It would be good if someone could explain a bit about what is going on, and have a think about what we need to do now - eg. a summary of their remit, and a list of the relevant people we need to influence. We could then as a first step write letters like some of us wrote to the Finance Committee and send them in and also give them the recommended reading from the written evidence. Anyone fancy getting started on this?

Reply to the comment left by "Ros ." at "06/11/2015 - 08:16":

Hi ros

Don't mean to be negative but this is done and dusted they will not be changing it my MP said it would be a miracle if they did.

I think energies need to be focused on sorting out strategies to minimise the impact on ur personal circumstances the government know this is going to screw landlords they don't care we a casualty as my MP put it like the police and firemen getting there pensions budgets etc cut.

Me and my son are basing future decisions and strategies on making sure we get the best possible outcome for ourselves like selling increasing rents and very important diversifying so u have other income streams as the buy to let market using mortgages has basically died as we know it

Reply to the comment left by "Maria O'Neill" at "06/11/2015 - 08:23":

Hi Maria.
It's not either/or. I am also raising rents and working on personal strategies - but that doesn't take up all my spare time. I also have time to continue the fight and my fury gives me energy. I may also 'give up' at some point, but I'm not yet. There are new developments in the Lords regarding the PRS - that was what I was referring to and we should use our knowledge and expertise to try and influence that process. Lateral thinking!
Also, if we do not try and change the views of both Tories, Labour and SNP MPs they will go even further and get rid of the 20%. A continued campaign on our part may prevent that.