Landlords To Launch Legal Challenge To Osborne's Tax Relief Changes

A group representing 250 landlords is to launch a court challenge against tax changes to buy to let coming into force in 2017, claiming they have been victimised by George Osborne.  The landlords have obtained legal advice that they have grounds to mount a judicial review of the tax changes, claiming that it breaches human rights legislation and European law. From 2017, tax relief for buy to let will gradually be cut to a flat rate of 20% compared with the 40% or 45% that some landlords currently enjoy. In the autumn statement the chancellor added an extra 3% stamp duty on buy-to-let purchases. Read more on the Observer website.

'Bedroom Tax Victimising Mentally Ill Patients'

The government's controversial bedroom tax is victimising patients with mental health problems, a health campaigner has claimed.  Pam Jenkinson, president of Wokingham Mental Health Association in Berkshire, represented a woman suffering from depression, anxiety and anorexia at an unsuccessful appeal against the bedroom tax last week. The social housing tenant had fallen into arrears of £845 with Wokingham Borough Council after the local authority deemed she was under-occupying her two-bed flat.  Had she qualified for the higher rate of disability living allowance she would have been exempt for the bedroom tax. However, she only qualified for the middle rate of DLA and was consequently with hit with the tax, losing 14% of her weekly housing benefit. Read more on 24dash.