Has the BBC become a Tory tool?

[meltonblue]

Not very at all. But the issue is that is the current position right here right now that does not necessarily translate that immigrants caused the situation.

However, what I am suggesting is that the situation is only likely to be worsened by allowing thousands more people to join the queue for housing and adding to the schooling situation and the current healthcare issues.

Do you think we can absorb these additional folk?

Yes I do, and for considerably cheaper than the governments current plan is costing.

 

[west didsblue]

Not very at all. But the issue is that is the current position right here right now that does not necessarily translate that immigrants caused the situation.

However, what I am suggesting is that the situation is only likely to be worsened by allowing thousands more people to join the queue for housing and adding to the schooling situation and the current healthcare issues.

Do you think we can absorb these additional folk?

I’ve already said there’s 250,000 long term empty properties in the UK but you ignored that. Do you have a reason why the government shouldn’t bring in legislation to strongly encourage the owners to rent them out?

 

[BigJoe#1]

I’ve already said there’s 250,000 long term empty properties in the UK but you ignored that. Do you have a reason why the government shouldn’t bring in legislation to strongly encourage the owners to rent them out?

Fair point..... now explain how you will implement such a policy?

We could also build another million homes. Sadly it will not happen, both you and I know that.

If I had my way I'd say anyone earning over £500k a year should pay 85% income tax.
No one should be allowed to have more than £5m in personal assets but it aint going to happen.

In the meantime the quarter of a million homeless in the UK can look forward to being less likely to get a home when the 80k from overseas increase the overall number.

 

[west didsblue]

Fair point..... now explain how you will implement such a policy?

We could also build another million homes. Sadly it will not happen, both you and I know that.

If I had my way I'd say anyone earning over £500k a year should pay 85% income tax.
No one should be allowed to have more than £5m in personal assets but it aint going to happen.

In the meantime the quarter of a million homeless in the UK can look forward to being less likely to get a home when the 80k from overseas increase the overall number.

It’s really up to the government to introduce legislation that makes it very expensive for the owners of empty homes to leave them empty long term. But they don’t want to do that because if they solve the problem it doesn’t help with their anti immigrant and asylum seeker rhetoric that they’re using to fuel their culture war that they hope will help them win the next election or at least avoid being wiped out.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

It’s really up to the government to introduce legislation that makes it very expensive for the owners of empty homes to leave them empty long term. But they don’t want to do that because if they solve the problem it doesn’t help with their anti immigrant and asylum seeker rhetoric that they’re using to fuel their culture war.

That's true, but that's not the reason. They don't want to do it because it would hit a lot of them in the pocket personally. Half of them are landlords themselves.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

does Sharp ever reveal anything he is up to? More to the point is it all a bit shady?

Richard Sharp: BBC chair was shareholder in firm awarded £600k while he was a No 10 adviser

Man alleged to have helped organise loan for Boris Johnson has £3.4m stake in healthcare firm Oncimmune

www.theguardian.com

Yet again, I've got to fill in my annual form declaring any conflict of interest for my job as a humble English teacher. Meanwhile these corrupt cunts just keep filling their pockets with no oversight. It's laughable.

 

[west didsblue]

That's true, but that's not the reason. They don't want to do it because it would hit a lot of them in the pocket personally. Half of them are landlords themselves.

If the property’s empty they’re not landlords. Many are speculators but a lot just don’t want to spend money to bring their properties up to a lettable state. In either case they should be encouraged to either make them lettable or sell them to someone who would. But you’re correct in that the government wants to protect the speculators because they’re the people who donate to them.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Fair point..... now explain how you will implement such a policy?

Tax of 10% of the value of the property per year, which can be claimed back if you have a resident living in it. Removes any incentive to buy a property as an investment and just leave it empty, because the tax wipes out any increase in value. Incentivises people offering long-term secure rental to people, and gives the renter more negotiating power, because they know that landlords need a tenant. People who are actually providing a good service still make money, and people buying just to sit on the increases in value get screwed. It also means that more houses will go onto the market second hand, because like cars, it costs more to keep them than it does to just sell them. Would you keep a 500k flat empty if it cost you 50 grand a year to do so?

 

[bluethrunthru]

If the property’s empty they’re not landlords. Many are speculators but a lot just don’t want to spend money to bring their properties up to a lettable state. In either case they should be encouraged to either make them lettable or sell them to someone who would. But you’re correct in that the government wants to protect the speculators because they’re the people who donate to them.

Foreign investors like Chinese and Russian owners juts buy to launder money. If you go somewhere and launder £100k buying an asset thats worth £80k then so what? You have £80k of "clean" money. But the attraction here has been with a housing market running away with itself you can spend £100k and 3 years later have £125k + "clean " money. Better still the more of your fellow launderers buy a limited stock of housing at inflated prices the higher the prices go. Its been a win win win for them - they have no interest in the asset they have no need to get involved in rentals - look up the former "Billionaires Row" Bishops Ave in London as an example

 

[BigJoe#1]

It’s really up to the government to introduce legislation that makes it very expensive for the owners of empty homes to leave them empty long term. But they don’t want to do that because if they solve the problem it doesn’t help with their anti immigrant and asylum seeker rhetoric that they’re using to fuel their culture war that they hope will help them win the next election or at least avoid being wiped out.

Agreed, so I ask you again. How do you implement it.

Idealism is one thing but pragmatism and reality (however much you disagree with it) are totally different, so I ask again how will your ideals be achieved?

Not being funny but we have to deal with the hand we have been dealt not the one we would have liked to have been dealt.