The budget

Yesterday's budget held no good news for Oxford's landlords making no mention of interest-rate relief nor the ban on letting agent fees to tenants.  As a result we have to assume that both measures are baked-in to Treasury forecasts.

Despite widespread and growing condemnation of the Government's attack on landlords, there is no sign of policy change in relation to stamp duty nor on mortgage interest rate relief.  Use the link below to join forces with others including ARLA and NALS to oppose these policies and to stay abreast of developments:  https://www.tenanttax.co.uk/

Whilst there were no new announcements about the Government seeking ways to target landlords incorporating companies to enable them to continue to off-set mortgage interest rate relief, there is widespread commentary that this will form part of future budgets.  The increase in NI contributions for the self-employed confirm policy direction that is seeking to harmonise employee and self-employed tax rates.  This move appears to over-look the fact that self-employed people can not access the range of wider benefits typically available to employees, meaning the self-employed will be increasingly disadvantaged in comparison with company employees.