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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Council tax discount for landlords may be scrapped

Buy-to-let landlords could soon be hit with an empty homes tax after the Chancellor Philip Hammond yesterday gave local councils the ability to increase the council tax premium on empty homes from 50% to 100%.

The move is the latest in a long line of anti-landlord measures introduced in recent Budgets by the existing government, including the 3% stamp duty surcharge, the scrapping of the 10% ‘wear and tear’ tax relief, and the phasing out of mortgage tax relief.

Hammond said: "It can’t be right to leave property empty when so many are desperate for a place to live."

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Danielle Cullen, managing director of rental listings business ClickTenant, described the empty homes tax as yet another “crippling” announcement by the Chancellor for private landlords.

She said: “Landlords have been completely paralysed by Conservative announcements recently, with the UK moving down 10 places in the list of best European countries to invest in buy-to-let property in recent months.” 

Cullen pointed out that Hammond offered no greater clarity over the proposed ban on tenant letting fees.

“We’re also still no more informed on the tenant lettings fee ban, which is also set to increase rental costs for landlords, as many agents have outlined they will have to pass over the costs,” she added. 

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    faux-tories--do not vote for them

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    The other lot would be far worse

     
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    Another kick in the teeth!

    I can understand making people pay if the property has been empty for 6 months or more but it should be scrapped if the property is only empty for a few weeks in between tenancies.

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    I think most Local Authorities will apply a discount for the first 6 months empty, then standard rate between 6-24 months empty, then after that long term empty premium kicks in at 150% or soon to be 200%.
    In most cases a renovation only need take 6 months at most so most people shouldn't have a problem there. If its a more extensive renovation then there are major works exemptions for Council Tax. Empty for 2 years plus is frankly disgraceful, if you can't get a property occupied in that time you're probably in the wrong business.

     
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    The council local to us has already scrapped the discount and landlords now pay 100% straight away

     
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    barry--you are wrong--most allow no gaps

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