[Brighton] Council imposing double council tax on second homes in Brighton & Hove.

[Binney on acid]

Just wondered what you thought of this. I'm all in favour of filling empty homes that would otherwise lie empty. However, penalising people like myself that were sufficiently prudent to purchase the property that they live in, whilst retaining ownership of their original property ? I've never exploited a tenant financially or otherwise, and always respond immediately to any maintenance problems that should arise.

The more money that you take from a family, the less disposable income they have, which obviously has a negative impact upon their lives, especially if they have young children. I think my last tenant resided there for 12 years. The initial rent was way below the market value, and remained that way, although I must have increased the rent by 15% during that time. If I end up paying another £150 a month, I might as well sell the flat. It's more hassle than it's worth. I'm just wondering what the council achieves here ?

 

[TomandJerry]

Add to that another 4.99% increase coming.

No wonder different brands are issuing profit warnings.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Excellent news if true.

Always seems to be so many philanthropic landlords offering properties way below market rates. Makes me wonder why it costs almost double the cost of an average mortgage to rent anywhere in Brighton.

 

[dazzer6666]

Just wondered what you thought of this. I'm all in favour of filling empty homes that would otherwise lie empty. However, penalising people like myself that were sufficiently prudent to purchase the property that they live in, whilst retaining ownership of their original property ? I've never exploited a tenant financially or otherwise, and always respond immediately to any maintenance problems that should arise.

The more money that you take from a family, the less disposable income they have, which obviously has a negative impact upon their lives, especially if they have young children. I think my last tenant resided there for 12 years. The initial rent was way below the market value, and remained that way, although I must have increased the rent by 15% during that time. If I end up paying another £150 a month, I might as well sell the flat. It's more hassle than it's worth. I'm just wondering what the council achieves here ?

You could just aim to increase the rent to closer to the market rate over time to cover your increased costs if it’s that far below the market rate ? Potentially facing a big CGT bill if you’ve had the property that long and sell it…….?

Like @deletebeepbeepbeep, I never hear of Landlords who charge market rates…….it’s always ‘everyone else’. Even in Burgess Hill rental costs are stupidly high - personally would like a lot more properties on the market and things to be done to make BTL less attractive to help this so personally would support such plans.

 

[tigertim68]

Excellent news if true.

Always seems to be so many philanthropic landlords offering properties way below market rates. Makes me wonder why it costs almost double the cost of an average mortgage to rent anywhere in Brighton.

What is wrong if you can afford to have 2 homes ,
what has it got to do with the council , or anybody else , too much interference with people’s rights by government and councils,
Brighton council is becoming more like a Russian state council

 

[Eeyore]

Bloody Greens.

Oh....

 

[mikeyjh]

Isn't this second homes rather them homes available for rent? If so, fair enough?

 

[Chicken Run]

Add to that another 4.99% increase coming.

No wonder different brands are issuing profit warnings.

Who imposes rises in council tax, government or local authorities?

 

[Mustafa II]

Isn't this second homes rather them homes available for rent? If so, fair enough?

Yep, this is for 2nd and empty homes, not for rental properties (which would be disastrous for the rental market).

OP has the wrong end of the stick. This is a great idea and doesn't go far enough IMO.

 

[mwrpoole]

Why are you paying the Council Tax? Council Tax is the responsibility of the people living there. This 2nd home charge is fairly common now across the UK but it’s targeted at houses which aren’t anyone’s main residence, a 2nd home.

 

[mikeyjh]

Yep, this is for 2nd and empty homes, not for rental properties (which would be disastrous for the rental market).

OP has the wrong end of the stick. This is a great idea and doesn't go far enough IMO.

Totally agree.

 

[Weststander]

Who imposes rises in council tax, government or local authorities?

Councils decide these particular moves.

 

[Chicken Run]

Yep, this is for 2nd and empty homes, not for rental properties (which would be disastrous for the rental market).

OP has the wrong end of the stick. This is a great idea and doesn't go far enough IMO.

Indeed, on rental properties the tenant pays the council tax so this doesn’t affect the rental market

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Great idea, wish they did that in Arundel, population dwindling, issues with AirBnB, and limited properties for young people.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Why are you paying the Council Tax? Council Tax is the responsibility of the people living there. This 2nd home charge is fairly common now across the UK but it’s targeted at houses which aren’t anyone’s main residence, a 2nd home.

The OP seems to have misunderstood this new ruling.

 

[Weststander]

[I don’t own any investment properties].

If it’s social engineering to get landlords per se to throw in the towel, I have my doubts that:
1. The number of let properties overall will fall in the UK. More switched on and business like entities/couples will snap them up.
2. The Airbnb thing is growing apace, I know ordinary folk who’ve got into that, the profits are huge. People are switching from BTL.
3. Will rents fall? I’m certain they won’t, my BTL clients are increasing rents.

Housing boils down to just one main issue. Our population had risen by 9m since the 1997 GE, yet we’re millions short in decent homes. A vast housebuilding strategy is a must, now. If Starmer can carry that out, millions won’t be dependent on vast rents or living in slum private sector rent conditions.

 

[WATFORD zero]

About 50% of the population own, or have mortgages on the place they live.

Isn't anything beyond that business and subject to business rules, rates and taxes ? and having run a lot of those businesses I was subject to the exact same.

It's a business, you're a businessman, when you go into business those are the rules, sorry

 

[Weststander]

Great idea, wish they did that in Arundel, population dwindling, issues with AirBnB, and limited properties for young people.

Scratches the economics for landlords, little effect, rents rise. Making BTL’s energy efficient is their biggest cost concern.

 

[dazzer6666]

[I don’t own any investment properties].

If it’s social engineering to get landlords per se to throw in the towel, I have my doubts that:
1. The number of let properties overall will fall in the UK. More switched on and business like entities/couples will snap them up.
2. The Airbnb thing is growing apace, I know ordinary folk who’ve got into that, the profits are huge. People are switching from BTL.
3. Will rents fall? I’m certain they won’t, my BTL clients are increasing rents.

Housing boils down to just one main issue. Our population had risen by 9m since the 1997 GE, yet we’re millions short in decent homes. A vast housebuilding strategy is a must, now. If Starmer can carry that out, millions won’t be dependent on vast rents or living in slum private sector rent conditions.

If Mid Sussex is representative, we already have a vast housebuilding strategy. Shame it doesn’t seem to include the supporting infrastructure

 

[cjd]

Excellent news if true.

Always seems to be so many philanthropic landlords offering properties way below market rates. Makes me wonder why it costs almost double the cost of an average mortgage to rent anywhere in Brighton.

Does it really ?