21st
Oct 2022
A Tory MP says the somewhat controversial mini-budget stamp duty cuts should not be allowed for any buyers of additional homes.
The Tory MP for St Austell and Newquay in Cornwall, Steve Double, has campaigned over many years for stricter planning powers to curb new or existing homes using properties for Airbnb type short lets or rented out as holiday homes. He says they have drastically reduced the housing stock and at the same time caused increased house prices which local communities cannot afford.
The former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng increased the stamp duty threshold for home buyers from £125,000 to £425,000.For first time home buyers their threshold is further incentivised from the initial £300,000 to £425,000 and is allowed for purchases up to £625,000.
However MP wants the stamp duty windfall to be given to primary home buyers and not for second home owners, Airbnb let properties or for landlord purchasers.
When addressing the Commons, he said: “The last stamp duty holiday during the pandemic fuelled demand for second homes and that pushed house prices even further above the average level. So even fewer people in Cornwall could afford homes.
“If this latest cut goes ahead, it should be allowed only for primary residences … otherwise … we’ll once again fuel investment purchases of homes in areas like Cornwall.”
Currently Cornwall is one of the areas being studied in a government review of how short-term holiday lets affect the local communities.
There is an unsubstantiated claim that the government has an enforcement proposal which suggests of a crackdown on short term and Airbnb let properties by carrying out physical checks to make sure area and housing regulations are followed, such as ant-social behaviour along with health and safety compliancy.
The government is also discussing whether a registration ‘kitemark’ scheme with spot checks for compliancy which include, ‘hosts’ having to pre-register to a self- certification scheme before they can let out their properties, gas and electrical safety checks certification. It also intends to provide a far better and a ‘one-stop shop’ area on its website containing comprehensive guidance for ‘hosts’ on their full legal requirements they must follow.
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