RE: The only way is up?10 May 2022 14:37
Billy, am not so sure there is a worse epidemic in China, their numbers are considerably, very considerably, lower than just about everywhere in the world, but they are choosing to lockdown to tackle it, unlike everywhere else where it is basically ignored now.
In short its self inflicted harm to try and stop the unstoppable, and i doubt they will continue doing so forever.
Interesting today Cornwall council decided to try and double tax second home owners down here because of a 'housing shortage'.
Complete load of BS, new ones are being built everywhere in vast quantities. My town is actually doubling in size, and is happening all over Cornwall - i know, i monitor them as part of my job.
The real trouble they have is that so many are taxed under the small business excemption, so in effect pay no council tax at all, its a huge problem here (i know one guy in my town that owns 49 houses yet pays ZERO tax for any of them!). But its politically easier to moan about 'incomers' rather than tackle the real issue of buisiness rates relief. All just a giant game of smoke and mirrors.
What the morons in charge dont understand or make clear is that if a second home owner 'flips' his primary residence to his current holiday home then they cant levy extra tax - so all people who live elsewhere (where second homes apparantly isnt an issue) will just do that to work around the rule.