Tuesday 22 June 2010

What the Budget means for Landlords


The new Coalition Chancellor George Osborne delivered his Emergency Budget today. It was preceded by huge concern about likely changes to Capital Gains Tax which was of obvious concern to Landlords.

To read what the Emergency Budget means for Landlords and Property Owners we are pleased to link to Accountants Kingston Smith's Property Update published today.

This summary is specific to property and provides an excellent first look at the Budget proposals.

Friday 18 June 2010

NetRent.co.uk on the road - come and say hello


We're going to be at a number of Landlord Fairs and Expos over the coming months so if you would like to know more about NetRent.co.uk or just like to meet the team book your place now.

Calderdale Council Landlord Fair in Halifax at the Northbridge Leisure Centre on Wednesday 23rd June. Click here for more information.

Bradford Metropolitan District Council Landlord Fair Thursday 24th June at the Great Victoria Hotel. Click here for more information.

Somerset Landlord Expo at the Auction Centre, North Petherton, Somerset on Wednesday 14th July.
Click here for more information.

Ryedale Landlord Fair at the Malton Rugby Club on Wednesday 21 July. Click here for more information.

Bournemouth Landlord Conference on Friday 8th October at AFC Bournemouth. Click here for more information.

Friday 11 June 2010

'No more red tape' for private landlords

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has today (10th June 2010) promised England's one million landlords that the Government has no plans to introduce new regulations on the private rented sector.

Speaking at the first Communities and Local Government questions since the formation of the Coalition Government, the Minister confirmed that the legal framework already in place strikes the right balance between the rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants.

Read the full story here: Shapps promises 'no more red tape' for private landlords

Monday 7 June 2010

Housing Minister Dodges Capital Gains Tax Question


On 26th May we sent an email to Housing Minister Grant Shapps (pictured) about media speculation surrounding the forthcoming emergency budget (see the article below dated 26 May).

Today we received a reply, not from Mr Shapps, but from his office. This is the reply we received, in full:


Dear Mr Kearns,

Thank you for your email of 26 May addressed to the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP.
As your ermail is about taxation, which is the policy remit of the Treasury, it has been passed to them to reply.
Yours sincerely

John Powell

Apart from the spelling mistakes the Minister and his office miss the point. We replied as follows:


John,

Thank you for your email. The reason for sending the email to Mr Shapps is that as Housing Minister I believe he needs to know how landlords are feeling about the media stories surrounding CGT. As I made clear in my email to Mr Shapps we work with a large number of landlords and agents throughout the UK and they are very concerned about what the media have said.

The NLA and RLA have made their members aware of the story but combined they only represent a relatively small percentage of the total landlord population. We do not believe that as an industry we have sufficient time to mount a considered and concerted reaction to present to the Treasury. We feel we need to ask Mr Shapps to make the point to the Treasury on behalf on over 1 million landlords who would be seriously penalised if the media stories are correct.

The previous Government mounted what was in effect a continuous attack on the private rented sector, it is vital that this new Government does not continue that attack and instead resolves to work with rather than against landlords. In addition to passing my email onto the Treasury can you please assure the landlords we work with that Mr Shapps will actively present their legitimate concerns to his colleagues who are preparing the emergency Budget?

I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,

Sean Kearns


Time is running out before the emergency Budget, we will continue to pressure Mr Shapps into action. Any further correspondence will be posted on this News Blog.