Budget 2010

Now that things have settled down a little and as further details appear from the emergency budget, we thought it worthwhile compiling a number of changes that would most likely affect landlords.

Capital gains tax

Effective from 23 June 2010, capital gains tax will rise from 18 to 28 per cent for those with total income and taxable gains above the higher rate threshold. Basic rate payers will see no change to CGT.

According to the official budget report:

This strikes the right balance between fairness and international competitiveness. A substantial part of the revenue from this measure comes from higher income tax receipts as the incentive to convert income into capital gains is reduced. Basic rate taxpayers will continue to pay an 18 per cent rate on their gains.

Basic rate of income tax

The basic rate for income tax will be frozen in 2013 – 14

Personal allowance

The personal allowance for under 65s will be increased by £1,000 to £7,475 in 2011-12.

50p rate of income tax

The 50p rate of income tax took effect from April 2010 and will remain in place for the time being.

VAT and IPT

The standard rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) will increase from 17.5% to 20% from 4 January 2011.

The standard rate of Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) which will affect most if not all landlords will increase from 5% to 6% on 4 January 2011. The higher rate will increase from 17.5% to 20%.

Housing Benefit

The official budget statement states:

The Government will introduce a package of reforms to Housing Benefit from April 2011 onwards. This includes changing the percentile of market rents used to calculate Local Housing Allowance rates, and uprating these rates by CPI from 2013-14, capping the maximum Local Housing Allowance payable for each property size, time-limiting the receipt of full Housing Benefit for claimants who can be expected to look for work …

The changes will be:

• From April 2011, Local Housing Allowance Rates will be capped at £250 per week for a one bedroom property, £290 per week for a two bedroom property, £340 per week for a three bedroom property and £400 per week for four bedrooms or more. Channel 4 news reports that the Department for Work and Pensions have confirmed these capping rates are to take effect nationally. According to the Times, “13,000 families, mostly in London, will have to move out of their current properties and into somewhere more modest.” as a result of the proposed capping.
• Currently, the local housing allowance is based on the mean average of rents for a given area. From October 2011, Local Housing Allowance rates will be set at 30% of local rents.
• From 2013-14, Local Housing Allowance rates will be uprated in line with CPI.
• Housing benefit will be reduced by 10% for people who have been on jobseeker’s allowance for 12 months or more. This will be introduced in April 2013.
• From April 2011, Housing Benefit claimants with a disability and a non resident carer will be entitled to funding for an extra bedroom.
• Deductions for non-dependents will be uprated in April 2011 on the basis of prices. This will reverse the freeze in these rates since 2001-02.
• The Government contribution to Discretionary Housing Payments will be increased by £10 million in 2011-12 and £40 million in each year from 2012- 13.

Further Information

The full budget report can be obtained here

1. 

   David says:

   28/06/2010 at 8:37 am

   Any news on the Tory plans before the election to allow the tenant or landlord to choose to recieve LHA direct.

   reply
2. 

   admin says:

   28/06/2010 at 10:50 pm

   I’m afraid there is no news on this point. We have been trying to find out though and will keep trying.

   reply
3. 

   David Heal says:

   22/07/2010 at 2:12 pm

   I found the following link useful. It gives an indication of LHA based on the 30th percentile compared with the median:

   http://www.voa.gov.uk/LHADirect/LHA-emergency-budget-news-2010.htm

   Sorry if I’m duplicating info that’s already on the site.

   reply
   • 

     admin says:

     22/07/2010 at 4:11 pm

     Hello

     That’s really interesting thank you and it hasn’t been mentioned on this site before.

     Adrian

     reply