So, who votes for a government that improves the lives of Bankers, and ensures the excessive profits of energy companies, but needs all the "levelling up" money to pay for the holes in Brexit?

Agree wholeheartedly with you. The developers manage to find loopholes after planning has been agreed and cut back on “affordable” housing. Trees too seem to be “accidentally” removed. We have a feudal attitude here where the local landowner is one of the richest Dukes in England and he can’t sell land quick enough. Local authority just roll over and tug their forelocks - they put up no fight.

Dickens

GrannyGravy13

volver

You would be lucky to get a flat for that amount round here, so no £325,000 does not make you rich.

I'd love to hear you explain that to Jack Monroe.

Really funny, Jack lives near one of our AC a true Essex Person and a brilliant campaigner.

The reason she is downsizing her rented home is because she donates all her earnings to worthwhile local charities.

From what I've read in Jack's own blog she's downsizing because she can no longer afford the rental of the property she rented with her SO with whom she has now split up. She's on a fixed-term contract (or was) which is now maintained entirely by her.

She was also, back in July, looking for a job (any job) because freelance writing just doesn't pay the bills.

She's not in the best of health, either, suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and a calcified shoulder joint, together with recurring respiratory infections. Not to mention her ongoing mental health problems with which she battles it seems on a permanent basis.

I follow Jack because I often use her recipes - or adapt them - everything is costed and she gives food values which is really helpful. I often find her recipes very useful if I have stuff left in the 'fridge that needs to be used up - or those various tins of things you buy because it seemed like a good idea at the time and which months later still sit in the food cupboard.

She is, for me, the most useful 'go-to' professional in cooking circles.

Jack is highly regarded and protected by locals.

I have no idea why volver introduced Jack into this thread.

GrannyGravy13

volver

You would be lucky to get a flat for that amount round here, so no £325,000 does not make you rich.

I'd love to hear you explain that to Jack Monroe.

Really funny, Jack lives near one of our AC a true Essex Person and a brilliant campaigner.

The reason she is downsizing her rented home is because she donates all her earnings to worthwhile local charities.

From what I've read in Jack's own blog she's downsizing because she can no longer afford the rental of the property she rented with her SO with whom she has now split up. She's on a fixed-term contract (or was) which is now maintained entirely by her.

She was also, back in July, looking for a job (any job) because freelance writing just doesn't pay the bills.

She's not in the best of health, either, suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and a calcified shoulder joint, together with recurring respiratory infections. Not to mention her ongoing mental health problems with which she battles it seems on a permanent basis.

I follow Jack because I often use her recipes - or adapt them - everything is costed and she gives food values which is really helpful. I often find her recipes very useful if I have stuff left in the 'fridge that needs to be used up - or those various tins of things you buy because it seemed like a good idea at the time and which months later still sit in the food cupboard.

She is, for me, the most useful 'go-to' professional in cooking circles.

And what have they got to do with this thread? The Cadbury's and Rowntrees were (still are- one of the Cadbury's was my neighbour for many years) Quakers, with very strict views on wealth and looking after their workers, housing, education, health, etc. Are you really saying GSM that this is the case with the majority of City Traders!?! and those in the top echelons of Financial Services today?

The Rowntree family also, who continue to be philanthropists today.

Germanshepherdsmum

Well, one of those philanthropic men, in the mid 80s, funded the building of the new maternity hospital where my son was born - in memory of his mother who died in childbirth. Another, James Dyson, has funded some major projects recently. And that’s just two plucked out of the air.

The Victorian philanthropists were also sending boys up their chimneys to sweep them and employing servants such as my great grandmother to get up before dawn to light their fires.

I'm thinking I guess of the reformers and philanthropists - activists - of the Victorian and Edwardian eras who attempted to improve and change the lives of the disadvantaged - like William Armstrong, George Cadbury, George Peabody and Lord Rowton, who built housing, hostels, schools and hospitals. Some faced outright hostility I believe when they laid out their plans.

My local hospital also has a maternity wing paid for by a charitable wealthy local and, in fact, the area I lived in previously had something similar. But those mentioned above were in a league of their own.

I suggest you check the planning permission and the ancillary planning agreement on the planning authority’s website Fleurpepper. I have negotiated many such agreements covering provision of such things as affordable housing, provision of schools or
places, infrastructure such as schools or school places, bypasses, train and bus stations, doctors’ surgeries, shops - all manner of infrastructure.

And when it comes to deposits- there are those with 'Bank of Mum and Dad' - and the rest who don't have a scoobidoo chance.

Germanshepherdsmum

Those properties would simply cease to be built Casdon. Developers only build flats and houses for which there is a demand. A tenant’s ability to purchase is wholly dependent on saving a deposit and falling within mortgage lenders’ acceptability criteria. Developers are already required to provide a large percentage of affordable housing (for sale or rent) on private developments. Occasionally the local authority will accept a cash payment in lieu to enable them to provide the housing.

And most of the time, this does not happen. Near us there is so many new Estates coming up faster than mushrooms- and 'affordable housing' is nowhere to be seen! Neithe is the necessary infrasructure- schools, Drs surgery, PO, Public transport, etc.

Not sure what you're suggesting GG13

volver

^You would be lucky to get a flat for that amount round here, so no £325,000 does not make you rich.^

I'd love to hear you explain that to Jack Monroe.

Really funny, Jack lives near one of our AC a true Essex Person and a brilliant campaigner.

The reason she is downsizing her rented home is because she donates all her earnings to worthwhile local charities.

Those properties would simply cease to be built Casdon. Developers only build flats and houses for which there is a demand. A tenant’s ability to purchase is wholly dependent on saving a deposit and falling within mortgage lenders’ acceptability criteria. Developers are already required to provide a large percentage of affordable housing (for sale or rent) on private developments. Occasionally the local authority will accept a cash payment in lieu to enable them to provide the housing.

Germanshepherdsmum

JaneJudge

Mind you, all the starter homes and flats here are rented out, so it's making someone rich

If people didn’t buy these properties and make them available for rent, where would the tenants live? If they could afford to buy, they would. As Norah says, landlords have costs; mortgages, payment of service charges, payment of managing agents’ fees for a start, not to mention the cost of the gas etc safety certificates. Fewer costs are now allowed against income tax, and when the flat is sold capital gains tax is payable. Having a flat to rent out does not make anyone rich.

That is a poor argument. If houses at the lower end of the market were unsold rather than being purchased by would be landlords, the price of property would reduce, making housing more affordable. If we didn’t have a Tory Government there would be more social housing available for those who could not afford to purchase. Having a flat to rent out makes the landlord a lot richer than the person who is forced to spend money they would have used to purchase a home to rent one instead.

JaneJudge

Mind you, all the starter homes and flats here are rented out, so it's making someone rich

If people didn’t buy these properties and make them available for rent, where would the tenants live? If they could afford to buy, they would. As Norah says, landlords have costs; mortgages, payment of service charges, payment of managing agents’ fees for a start, not to mention the cost of the gas etc safety certificates. Fewer costs are now allowed against income tax, and when the flat is sold capital gains tax is payable. Having a flat to rent out does not make anyone rich.

Wealth in itself is not the problem. It’s the ever widening gap between the richest and poorest in society in the most developed countries, which causes the problem. Arguments about what is rich these days is a side issue.

There is plenty of empirical research to show that a higher inequality score affects the country’s economic growth overall with multiple negative effects on health, mental and physical, education, and well-being of the population.

This doesn’t come about by accident, but by deliberate policies of governments to protect the status quo.
How can this be defended?

You would be lucky to get a flat for that amount round here, so no £325,000 does not make you rich.

I'd love to hear you explain that to Jack Monroe.

I would have to look that up Norah, but quite some time ago and it certainly hasn’t kept pace with house price inflation. Homes account for the major part of most people’s ‘wealth’. People in areas where house prices are low think the threshold is perfectly adequate but in other areas owning even the most modest flat would take you over the threshold. A case for levelling down perhaps. Of course those whose assets are below the threshold will always accuse those with more of being rich. I have a sense of deja vu.

JaneJudge

Mind you, all the starter homes and flats here are rented out, so it's making someone rich

I feel it is false to say rentals make people rich.

The owner has costs: mortgage, expenses, maintenance, fees.

And may want a decent return on investment.

Mind you, all the starter homes and flats here are rented out, so it's making someone rich

Germanshepherdsmum

It’s high time it was raised.

When was the last revision?

tbf volver 2 up 2 downs are more than that where I live

volver

Apparently having an estate of more than £325,000 doesn't mean you are rich.

?

Correct in 2022.

volver

Apparently having an estate of more than £325,000 doesn't mean you are rich.

?

You would be lucky to get a flat for that amount round here, so no £325,000 does not make you rich.

Apparently having an estate of more than £325,000 doesn't mean you are rich.

?

It’s high time it was raised.