Tax Changes Will Increase Rents For Tenants

A new report from the TaxPayers' Alliance calls on the government to undertake real reform to tackle the housing shortage in the UK. Successive governments have avoided meaningful reform, instead focusing on tinkering around the edges which has only served to worsen the situation and drive up prices. Recent tax changes will also drive up rents. The recently implemented 3 per cent Stamp Duty additional homes surcharge and new restrictions on finance cost relief will also advantage richer prospective buyers at the expense of poorer tenants. Further, the TPA renews its call for the abolition of Stamp Duty, an unfair tax which stops people from buying their own home. Read more on the TPA website.

Mandatory Work for Benefits Claimants Could Save £3.51bn

A report has suggested Universal Credit claimants should have a mandatory 30 hour per week work or training commitment or lose their benefit, based on the US system. The Taxpayers Alliance report - Work for the Dole - suggests a return to work programme is the ‘next step’ to cut the number of unemployed people in the UK and claimants could be subject to the programme after claiming universal credit for three months. The proposed scheme could lead to annual savings of £3.51 billion and help 345,000 people off benefits over time.  It is estimated 575,000 people would be eligible for referral onto the programme.  Download a copy of the report from the Taxpayers Alliance website.