Latest news with #secondhome
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Is Angela 'Two Homes' Rayner paying the council tax surcharge on her grace-and-favour second residence?
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was last night facing questions over whether she is paying her own council tax surcharge on her second home. 'Two Homes' Rayner moved into her four-bedroom, grace-and-favour residence in Admiralty House in December – four months before her Local Government Department started levying an extra 100 per cent council tax charge on second homes. Official records of MPs' expenses show that when she entered the Government, Ms Rayner designated her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency home as her 'primary residence', and her pre-Admiralty home – a rented London flat – as her second home. That allowed her to claim back the £1,621 council tax bill on the London flat from the taxpayer as one of the housing costs reimbursed by Commons authorities. But if she is still designating Ashton as her primary residence now, the £2,034 council tax bill for Admiralty House doubles to a whopping £4,068 if classed as a second home. And, as a minister living in an official residence, she would have to pay both that and the £3,338 bill for the Ashton house herself – a total of £7,406. Ashton does not attract a second-home premium because she has family members living there permanently, but questions have been raised as to whether or not she is paying the full £7,406. Tory Shadow Minister Richard Holden asked the PM and the Chancellor if they were paying council tax on their Downing St flats as primary residences, and was informed that they were. If she is still designating Ashton as her primary residence now, the £2,034 council tax bill for Admiralty House (pictured) doubles to a whopping £4,068 if classed as a second home But on asking the same of Ms Rayner, he was stonewalled with: 'The Deputy Prime Minister's council tax responsibility is properly discharged.' In a letter to Ms Rayner, Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Secretary for Housing and Communities, asked if she had evaded the surcharge by 'flipping' her primary residence designation. He said: 'If the minister in charge of council tax has dodged the super-tax by 'flipping', this raises serious concerns about the ethics and integrity of Labour ministers.' She became known as 'Two Homes' Rayner after this newspaper revealed she shuttled between two council properties early in her marriage. When her office was asked if she was paying a bill of £4,068 in London and £3,338 in her constituency, a source said: 'The administration of council tax for Admiralty House is for the Cabinet Office and Westminster Council, as has been the case for successive Secretaries of State.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
10 Best States To Invest in a Second Home
If you've already dipped your toe into the world of real estate with the purchase of your home, you may be looking to add to your portfolio with a second home as an investment property. However, the opportunities to make this investment profitable are not the same everywhere, as some states offer more affordable homes than others. Explore More: Check Out: To determine the best states to invest in a second home, Deluxe Holiday Homes evaluated states based on average house sale price, 30-year mortgage rates, average down payment percentage and disposable income. For the purposes of this study, lower income-to-mortgage ratio percentages indicated better affordability and greater viability for second home investment. Here's a look at the best states to buy a second home as an investment. Average house sale price: $219,861 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,633 Monthly disposable income: $1,996 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 81.8% Average house sale price: $259,430 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,819 Monthly disposable income: $2,144 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 84.9% Trending Now: Average house sale price: $236,678 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,699 Monthly disposable income: $1,957 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 86.8% Average house sale price: $209,333 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,530 Monthly disposable income: $1,712 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 89.4% Average house sale price: $158,255 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,315 Monthly disposable income: $1,446 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 91% Average house sale price: $217,707 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,610 Monthly disposable income: $1,757 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 91.7% Average house sale price: $257,276 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,802 Monthly disposable income: $1,945 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 92.63% Average house sale price: $238,797 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,728 Monthly disposable income: $1,853 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 93.3% Average house sale price: $200,266 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,520 Monthly disposable income: $1,624 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 93.6% Average house sale price: $201,708 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,512 Monthly disposable income: $1,542 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 98% More From GOBankingRates 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks This article originally appeared on 10 Best States To Invest in a Second Home
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
10 Best States To Invest in a Second Home
If you've already dipped your toe into the world of real estate with the purchase of your home, you may be looking to add to your portfolio with a second home as an investment property. However, the opportunities to make this investment profitable are not the same everywhere, as some states offer more affordable homes than others. Explore More: Check Out: To determine the best states to invest in a second home, Deluxe Holiday Homes evaluated states based on average house sale price, 30-year mortgage rates, average down payment percentage and disposable income. For the purposes of this study, lower income-to-mortgage ratio percentages indicated better affordability and greater viability for second home investment. Here's a look at the best states to buy a second home as an investment. Average house sale price: $219,861 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,633 Monthly disposable income: $1,996 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 81.8% Average house sale price: $259,430 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,819 Monthly disposable income: $2,144 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 84.9% Trending Now: Average house sale price: $236,678 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,699 Monthly disposable income: $1,957 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 86.8% Average house sale price: $209,333 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,530 Monthly disposable income: $1,712 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 89.4% Average house sale price: $158,255 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,315 Monthly disposable income: $1,446 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 91% Average house sale price: $217,707 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,610 Monthly disposable income: $1,757 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 91.7% Average house sale price: $257,276 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,802 Monthly disposable income: $1,945 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 92.63% Average house sale price: $238,797 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,728 Monthly disposable income: $1,853 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 93.3% Average house sale price: $200,266 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,520 Monthly disposable income: $1,624 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 93.6% Average house sale price: $201,708 Estimated mortgage payment: $1,512 Monthly disposable income: $1,542 % of disposable income spent on mortgage: 98% More From GOBankingRates 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks This article originally appeared on 10 Best States To Invest in a Second Home
Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Family photos could help second home owners swerve tax raid
Second home owners could avoid double council tax bills on a property if there are family photos and heirlooms on display, a Scottish ruling suggests. Court documents published last week indicate the presence of sentimental items can help families to prove a property is their main residence and not a second home. It comes after more than 200 authorities in England brought in a 100pc council tax premium on second home owners from April 1. Authorities in Wales and Scotland have held similar powers since 2017 and 2024 respectively. The recent ruling from the Upper Tribunal for Scotland centres around 'Mr A' who owns a home in the Shetland Islands but works in Saudi Arabia for most of the year, according to Scottish Legal News. Mr A launched an appeal against the council raising the tax bill on his Shetlands property to £2,048. Mr A and his wife argued the house on the archipelago was their main residence, despite the fact their children attend school abroad. They also claimed it was their intention to move back to the Shetlands property permanently in the future. The case was first rejected by Scotland's First-tier Tribunal (FTS) chamber in October, but a further appeal to the Upper Tribunal has proved successful, and it will again be heard by the FTS at a later date. Family photographs and heirlooms were not stated as a defence, however, Judge Sheriff McCartney suggested in the ruling that such an argument could add weight to future claims. She said: 'The question of whether a property is a main or sole residence is fact sensitive. 'It requires the decision maker to have a clear understanding of the relevant facts.' She continued to state several factors were influential in the case, including: how much time the family spent at the property; their ties to each home including where they book dentists' and doctors appointments; the whereabouts of personal belongings such as photographs, heirlooms and 'items of sentimental value'; their living arrangements abroad; and details of Mr A's work contract. Ben Menahem, of law firm Seddons GSC, said: ' Second home owners may well begin to rely on this reasoning to challenge higher council tax premiums, arguing that the presence of such items reflects the property's use as a main residence.' Johnny Drysdale, a property lawyer at Keystone Law, said it is 'interesting to note the judge's broadening of the criteria of what is a main residence'. He added: 'Scottish judgements are not binding on English courts but commentary from judges across the border can be persuasive and influential. 'If these types of quite tenuous ties to a property can be included in the assessment, then we are going to see this tax challenged by people in England and Wales for the same reasons. 'Photographs and items of sentimental value seem very broad and open to interpretation.' Shetland Islands Council enforced the penalty on its 221 second homes last April in an effort to boost availability for locals. It is one of many local authorities across Britain to launch a tax raid on second home owners. Those in England have seen their annual bills rocket to £3,672 on average, according to Telegraph analysis. Andrew Hazeldine, of law firm Aaron & Partners, said the Scottish ruling mentioning presence of family photographs in a second home 'could potentially open up a loophole of sorts'. But he warned that 'simply putting some items of sentimental value or photographs into an unoccupied property is unlikely to sway the court's decision significantly'. Aaron Peake, of credit score service CredAbility, said: 'A couple of framed photos and a few keepsakes aren't going to outweigh hard evidence. 'This ruling doesn't open the door for a flood of people dodging council tax by putting up a few family snaps. In fact, I'd caution anyone thinking about it.'
