Protecting your finances now Labour are in charge

The second home we let to locals for 13 years then holiday lets for 3 years. We worked very, very hard to buy both our properties, never claimed any benefits and never got any handouts. I am very proud of that. As we were self employed the income from that house is our pension.

I rent out a modest one bedromed flat which came to me as part of my divorce settlement in 2016. The rent is low, even by the standards of the area of the town in which it is situated. During the pandemic, the tenant couldn't keep up the rent payments because he had no work. I agreed that he could pay as and when he could and eventually he repaid all that was owed. The amount I earn is declared each year on my tax return.

I am lucky to have worked throughout my life and never claimed benefits but do not regard this as being significant, Primrose53. Many contributors here, at both ends of the political spectrum, could claim similarly, perhaps.

As has already been said, where is the compassion for those less fortunate? I would prefer to pay more tax and see our various services improve for everyone, including all of us as we age and the generations that follow which include my children and my grandchildren.

I don’t think you have considered the facts Lizzie, just the attention-grabbing headline as presented by Merion which appeals to you. The underlying facts show a different story. My post is the factual one, but believe what you wish - it’s of no consequence to me.

I don’t think any of us are “taken in”. Second home ownership started years and years ago and priced many Welsh people out of homes locally, then the entire West.

AirBnB is responsible for many privately rented homes no longer being available for long term lets.

Being a landlord can be a nightmare, but we need private long term letting and more social housing.

The flats remaining empty in Birmingham is an utter disgrace.

Because people have compassion and believe in equality doesn’t automatically mean they despise wealth. We need wealth producers, a strong economy, entrepreneurs, but until everyone is housed in adequate suitable homes no one should be responsible for pricing locals out of their own towns and villages.

If everyone had their own home, I wouldn’t care if others owned 20 second homes and used them as holiday lets!

Consider my post above. People are so easily led

GSM I have considered your post above. On balance, I find Merion’s factual post far more convincing than your string of hypothetical questions.

Just because I disagree with you does not mean I am ‘easily led’.

RosiesMaw

To be fair, while there are so many families being rehoused in B & Bs, damp and mould ridden Housing Authority flats, whole families often in one or at most two rooms with shared toilets and kitchens, or even containers I shan’t shed too many tears for second home owners or holiday let’s in rural,or seaside areas where 50% of the housing is AirNbB and locals are priced out of the market
As for “rings of steel” , my sock under the bed will stay where it is.
I don’t think those of us on pensions especially where we own our own homes are necessarily particularly at risk.
If spending on homelessness, the NHS, schools, social housing and social care take precedence over investment in property or tax evasion schemes I’ll be the first to give three hearty cheers

Well said RosiesMaw. Totally agree with you.

Cossy

I also am paying tax on my pension, like many many other pensioners!!

Me too. I am on the new state pension and also get a small amount taken from this because of my occ pen.
I can't complain, I am mortgage free, drive a corsa which I bought from new many years ago, which is relatively cheap to run, I have enough to live a relatively financial ok lifestyle so long as something big does not come along.
I want my waspi compensation for waiting for six years for my pension, I dought I will get this under labour. I have some compassion for younger people and will help my adult son and daughter plus Grandchildren if I can, but I am also looking out for myself.

LizzieDrip

Merion thanks, once again, for your well-informed posts.

The number of houses standing empty in this country is shameful. Until every person has a decent roof over their heads, no-one should be able to own more than one house!

Consider my post above. People are so easily led.

Cossy

Merion

Oh and there are nearly 700,000 homes in England that are unfurnished and standing empty. Over 261,000 of these are classed as ‘long-term empty’. When we add in holiday short-lets and second homes, total vacancy sits at over 1 million homes, meaning that across England, 1 in every 25 homes is empty.

These are government numbers and a cause for shame when so many people struggle to find a home.

www.actiononemptyhomes.org/

👏👏👏👏👏👏

What is distortion of the facts. Nearly 700,009 homes are empty and unfurnished. How many belong to people who have gone into care, or have died, which have not yet been sold?

Then holiday lets and second homes, both of which provide accommodation during the year and are not empty, are added.
Anyone here enjoy using a second home at weekends and holidays? Those homes are not standing empty. Anyone here enjoy hiring a holiday cottage in the UK rather than travelling abroad? It’s likely to be fully booked for most of the year.

Unfortunately many are taken in by twisted facts’. Dig deeper and the real facts are very different.

LizzieDrip

Wow Katie that’s dreadful

I agree, truly shocking!

It is. They weren't finished in time for the games (typical) and have stood empty since completion. I don't quite know what has happened as they were up for sale, some designated as affordable housing. There now appears to be some sort of wrangling going on. It's an awful shame.

Witzend let’s hope the Labour government puts a stop to that!

Of course, when they do, it will be viewed, in some quarters, as ‘punishing the poor landlords’.

Tough - pay your tax like everyone else!

Wow Katie that’s dreadful

I sincerely hope that 40 billion revenue gap will be tackled, and if that means employing more HMRC staff, so be it.

I wouldn’t mind betting that a good many landlords fail to declare their rental income, or under-declare it. If there is no mortgage on the property - and a good many LLs are mortgage free - then unless your local council requires you to register (many don’t) there is literally nobody you legally need to tell that you are letting a property. The SA form asks only how many properties - it doesn’t ask for addresses.

I have heard anecdotally of people who have never declared their rental income, including via a dd, a married couple - both doctors - who told DD’s friend that she was mad to be declaring hers - ‘We never have!’

Almost 1000 lovely apartments built for the Commonwealth Games standing empty here in Birmingham.

Merion thanks, once again, for your well-informed posts.

The number of houses standing empty in this country is shameful. Until every person has a decent roof over their heads, no-one should be able to own more than one house!

Merion

Oh and there are nearly 700,000 homes in England that are unfurnished and standing empty. Over 261,000 of these are classed as ‘long-term empty’. When we add in holiday short-lets and second homes, total vacancy sits at over 1 million homes, meaning that across England, 1 in every 25 homes is empty.

These are government numbers and a cause for shame when so many people struggle to find a home.

www.actiononemptyhomes.org/

👏👏👏👏👏👏

I also am paying tax on my pension, like many many other pensioners!!

Casdon

Haven’t you already done it Primrose53?

Yes Casdon but taking further steps now. 😉

That’s pretty rich considering that from April 2025 the Tories brought in double council tax on second homes!

Ladyleftfieldlover

Blimey Primrose! Just the one house to cope with. It appears that a few of you Tory supporters have your knickers in a huge knot. Doesn’t the word ‘compassion’ mean anything to you?

The second home we let to locals for 13 years then holiday lets for 3 years. We worked very, very hard to buy both our properties, never claimed any benefits and never got any handouts. I am very proud of that. As we were self employed the income from that house is our pension.

It makes me laugh when you go on about compassion. You know nothing about me and what I have done or do now for others. Nothing at all.

Labour don’t want anybody to do well apart from their supporters like Vordemann, Geldof and various luvvie actors who are a million times wealthier than people like me.

kircubbin2000

There was talk of taxing your pension. I would not like that.

My pension and many thousands of others already have their pensions taxed. Nothing new there.

Oh no RosiesMaw Fortnum’s salted caramel shortbread biscuits are particularly delicious 🍪

Ladyleftfieldlover

Blimey Primrose! Just the one house to cope with. It appears that a few of you Tory supporters have your knickers in a huge knot. Doesn’t the word ‘compassion’ mean anything to you?

Hear,hear.
There is no magic money tree and if we want a National Health Service, social care for the elderly (like us!) or the disadvantaged , good schools, roads without potholes , enough affordable homes for all - the money has to come from somewhere.
I would rather pay higher taxes for an efficient NHS than have to raid the piggy bank for a hip or knee replacement .
However I may have to let Brabinger go along with the second Bentley and shop at Waitrose instead of Fortnums, but we must all be prepared to make sacrifices.

Oh and there are nearly 700,000 homes in England that are unfurnished and standing empty. Over 261,000 of these are classed as ‘long-term empty’. When we add in holiday short-lets and second homes, total vacancy sits at over 1 million homes, meaning that across England, 1 in every 25 homes is empty.

These are government numbers and a cause for shame when so many people struggle to find a home.

www.actiononemptyhomes.org/

Apologies for small typos in above but the meaning should be clear.