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Vice Chair of SWLA, Iain Maitland attended a stakeholder event hosted by Teignbridge Housing Partnership in Newton Abbot on Tuesday 28th November 2017. The Partnership brings together housing professionals, stakeholders and partners from key organisations to contribute to, and influence the delivery of affordable housing, the prevention of homelessness, maintaining housing standards and supporting people to maintain independence in their own homes.
A summary of the budget announcements that may affect the private rented sector……
Finance and tax
Stamp duty land tax – the government will raise the price at which a property becomes liable for SDLT to £300,000 for first‑time buyers. The relief will not apply to properties worth over £500,000.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) payment window – The introduction of the 30-day payment window between a capital gain arising on a residential property and payment will be deferred until April 2020.
Rent-a-room relief – The government will call for evidence to establish how rent-a-room relief is used and make steps to ensure it is better targeted towards longer-term lettings.
Raising income tax bracket – The personal allowance for income tax will be increased from £11,500 to £11,850 from April 2018. The threshold to pay a higher rate of income tax will rise from £45,000 to £46,350.
Mileage rates for landlords – The government will continue to allow unincorporated landlords the choice to use the government’s fixed mileage rates or actual vehicle running costs and capital allowances when it comes to calculating deductible motoring expenses.
Supply and rents
Empty homes premium – The government is keen to bring empty properties back into use. To help achieve this, local authorities will be able to increase the council tax premium from 50% to 100%.
Longer tenancies – The government will consult on landlords offering longer, more secure tenancies to those tenants who want them.
Review of build out – The government will set up a panel to explain the gap between housing completions and the planning permission given, and make recommendations for closing it.
Register of planning permissions – The government will create a central register of residential planning permissions to improve information on where permissions are held and progress towards them being built
Small sites – The government will provide a further £630 million to accelerate the building of homes on small sites. Helping boost housing supply.
New garden towns – The government will bring together public and private capital to build five new garden towns.
Welfare
Universal Credit – The government will provide more support to Universal Credit claimants. From January 2018, those who qualify will be able to access up to a month’s worth of Universal Credit within five days via an interest-free advance. The government will extend the period of recovery from six months to twelve months, making it easier for claimants to manage. From February 2018, the government will remove the seven-day waiting period so that entitlement to Universal Credit starts on the first day of application. From April 2018 those already on Housing Benefit will continue to receive their award for the first two weeks of their Universal Credit claim. The government will make it easier for claimants to have the housing element of their award paid directly to their landlord.
Targeted Affordability Funding – To support Housing Benefit and Universal Credit claimants living in areas where private rents have been rising fastest, the government will increase some Local Housing Allowance rates.
Rent payment data – The government will support firms developing innovative solutions that help first‑time buyers ensure their history of meeting rental payments on time is recognised in their credit scores and mortgage applications.
Rough sleeping – The Budget sets out the government’s first steps towards its commitment to halve rough sleeping by 2022, and to eliminate it by 2027.
Housing First pilots – The government will invest £28 million in three Housing First pilots in Manchester, Liverpool and the West Midlands, to support rough sleepers with the most complex needs to turn their lives around.
Please note that there have been updates to the N5B England court form which is used by landlords to seek a court order for possession of a property located in England.
For further information please see the following government website;
https://www.gov.uk/accelerated-possession-eviction#more-information
https://formfinder.hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/n5b-england-eng.pdf
If you have any questions in relation to the form changes, please contact the SWLA office.
Steve Lees and Iain Maitland, Chair and Vice-Chair of the SWLA, attended the Shelter Housing and Homelessness Conference on Tuesday 21st November at Plumer House in Plymouth. Agencies were brought together to raise awareness of services and to increase knowledge in order to support those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness. Also discussed was the topic of substandard housing and promotion of joint working initiatives- new and existing. A variety of presentations and workshops took place.
http://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice
Today (17th November 2017) Steve Lees, Iain Matitland and Linda Johns of the SWLA committee met with Luke Pollard MP and his office manager Alex Beverly at the SWLA office. Items discussed included Tenant Fees Bill 2017, student accommodation, landlord/agent training and the Plymouth City Council Local Plan.
We plan to hold quarterly meetings with Luke regarding housing/landlord issues. Any items that members would like to be considered for discussion may be passed to the SWLA office.
Chairman and Vice Chairman met with Cllr Ricketts and Matt Garrett (Head of Community Connections) at 30 Dale Road on Thursday 19th October 2017.
Subjects discussed included, plan for empty homes and student accommodation, council tax, the PRS steering group and private rented forum.
SWLA will be attending this networking event which is being held at Muddifords Court Country House. All local landlords are welcome, pre-booking is advised, free to attend, please see the following website for more information;
https://www.middevon.gov.uk/residents/landlord-networking-event/