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| Grenfell and the inhumanity of UK housing policy | Grenfell and the inhumanity of UK housing policy |
| (11 days later) | |
| Your revelation on empty homes around the pyre of Grenfell Tower puts flesh on the bones of what we know of the inhumanity of government housing policies (Revealed: tycoons who own 1,652 empty homes in the Grenfell area, 2 August). The mantra of “We must build more homes and it is up to local authorities to get on with it” was repeated on Tuesday’s Channel 4 News feature on Grenfell by a Conservative London assembly member. | Your revelation on empty homes around the pyre of Grenfell Tower puts flesh on the bones of what we know of the inhumanity of government housing policies (Revealed: tycoons who own 1,652 empty homes in the Grenfell area, 2 August). The mantra of “We must build more homes and it is up to local authorities to get on with it” was repeated on Tuesday’s Channel 4 News feature on Grenfell by a Conservative London assembly member. |
| It is clear that the government’s finance and taxation structures are designed to create maximum consumption of a fundamental, scarce resource by those with the means and ruthlessness to hog the market, much of the money coming from very dodgy provenances, with no questions asked. Clearly, when up to 60% of new housing created in inner London is marketed and sold off-plan in the Middle East and east Asia, before it is offered to London buyers, and when 40% of former council homes are snapped up by buy-to-let landlords, to be re-let at many multiples of the social rent, local authorities are being used as the fall guys for failures in central government policies. | It is clear that the government’s finance and taxation structures are designed to create maximum consumption of a fundamental, scarce resource by those with the means and ruthlessness to hog the market, much of the money coming from very dodgy provenances, with no questions asked. Clearly, when up to 60% of new housing created in inner London is marketed and sold off-plan in the Middle East and east Asia, before it is offered to London buyers, and when 40% of former council homes are snapped up by buy-to-let landlords, to be re-let at many multiples of the social rent, local authorities are being used as the fall guys for failures in central government policies. |
| Blind adherence by Tory and New Labour governments to neoliberal economics has produced a level of cruelty comparable to the policies forced on Ireland during the potato famine of the 19th century, when about a million died of starvation while the island was exporting grain to the mainland, because England could afford to pay more and liberal economics dictated that it was impossible to interfere with “the market”.Kate MacintoshWinchester | Blind adherence by Tory and New Labour governments to neoliberal economics has produced a level of cruelty comparable to the policies forced on Ireland during the potato famine of the 19th century, when about a million died of starvation while the island was exporting grain to the mainland, because England could afford to pay more and liberal economics dictated that it was impossible to interfere with “the market”.Kate MacintoshWinchester |
| • The Guardian deserves huge credit for uncovering yet another piece of injustice associated with the Grenfell disaster. Might I suggest two moves to help counter this fresh injustice? | • The Guardian deserves huge credit for uncovering yet another piece of injustice associated with the Grenfell disaster. Might I suggest two moves to help counter this fresh injustice? |
| First, the Grenfell survivors – the residents who lived in the flats, rather than the landlords – should be given tenancies in the empty properties owned by offshore companies, with housing benefit made available to pay their rent. | First, the Grenfell survivors – the residents who lived in the flats, rather than the landlords – should be given tenancies in the empty properties owned by offshore companies, with housing benefit made available to pay their rent. |
| As a second move, swift legislative action is required to implement the proposal I made last year for the identities of those offshore companies’ beneficial owners to be published. This would enable swift enforcement action to bring those properties back into use. | As a second move, swift legislative action is required to implement the proposal I made last year for the identities of those offshore companies’ beneficial owners to be published. This would enable swift enforcement action to bring those properties back into use. |
| The government has promised to bring forward such legislation. Justice calls for it quickly to do so.Frank Field MPLabour, Birkenhead | The government has promised to bring forward such legislation. Justice calls for it quickly to do so.Frank Field MPLabour, Birkenhead |
| • The debate about taxing empty homes bought as an investment and left empty for private gain (How other cities around the world tax empty homes, 3 August) needs broadening to include a debate about taxing all UK land . Land exists to provide shelter, food, fuel and clothes for all. But the UK parliament has allowed the national and international rich and powerful to grab large amounts of limited UK land, so forcing up rents and prices beyond the reach of an increasing number of households, since lending, rent controls and the flow of cash in and out of the UK were deregulated in the 1980s. | • The debate about taxing empty homes bought as an investment and left empty for private gain (How other cities around the world tax empty homes, 3 August) needs broadening to include a debate about taxing all UK land . Land exists to provide shelter, food, fuel and clothes for all. But the UK parliament has allowed the national and international rich and powerful to grab large amounts of limited UK land, so forcing up rents and prices beyond the reach of an increasing number of households, since lending, rent controls and the flow of cash in and out of the UK were deregulated in the 1980s. |
| Land value tax is a secure, progressive source of revenue. A small percentage tax on the value of all land could replace inefficient and regressive taxes like council tax, business rates and stamp duty. Indeed, it has been found to bring empty homes and unused land into use in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and other US cities. It would encourage the four big UK builders to release their bank of 600,000 plots of unused land. Land cannot be transferred tax-free to an overseas bank, so taxing it in the UK might even recover a little of the trillions shipped out to tax havens by the City of London.Fred Harrison Land Research TrustRev Paul Nicolson Taxpayers Against Poverty | Land value tax is a secure, progressive source of revenue. A small percentage tax on the value of all land could replace inefficient and regressive taxes like council tax, business rates and stamp duty. Indeed, it has been found to bring empty homes and unused land into use in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and other US cities. It would encourage the four big UK builders to release their bank of 600,000 plots of unused land. Land cannot be transferred tax-free to an overseas bank, so taxing it in the UK might even recover a little of the trillions shipped out to tax havens by the City of London.Fred Harrison Land Research TrustRev Paul Nicolson Taxpayers Against Poverty |
| • Given the urgency of the housing crisis, the time has come for empty homes to be requisitioned to accommodate those in need, with rents set at social housing levels. Presumably planning permission was granted to provide housing, not investment opportunities. The present situation distorts the market and wastes scarce resources. To echo the Brexiters, we need to take back control of our housing stock.Roy BoffySutton Coldfield, West Midlands | • Given the urgency of the housing crisis, the time has come for empty homes to be requisitioned to accommodate those in need, with rents set at social housing levels. Presumably planning permission was granted to provide housing, not investment opportunities. The present situation distorts the market and wastes scarce resources. To echo the Brexiters, we need to take back control of our housing stock.Roy BoffySutton Coldfield, West Midlands |
| • Would that we could take back control of property owned by foreign oligarchs and countries through compulsory purchase. While we are at it, perhaps also take back control of foreign-owned utility companies and foreign-state-owned rail franchises. The necessities of life in respect of a home, energy and transport should be collectively owned for the benefit of the people and not for profit.Canon David JenningsLeicester Cathedral | • Would that we could take back control of property owned by foreign oligarchs and countries through compulsory purchase. While we are at it, perhaps also take back control of foreign-owned utility companies and foreign-state-owned rail franchises. The necessities of life in respect of a home, energy and transport should be collectively owned for the benefit of the people and not for profit.Canon David JenningsLeicester Cathedral |
| • How can your editorial on empty homes (3 August) conclude that increasing the supply of houses is the only sure way of bringing down their prices? Inequality and excess savings around the world are powerful, destructive forces. What you ignore is that these result from the deregulation of capitalism. Building more houses is just another evasive fix.George TalbotWatford, Hertfordshire | • How can your editorial on empty homes (3 August) conclude that increasing the supply of houses is the only sure way of bringing down their prices? Inequality and excess savings around the world are powerful, destructive forces. What you ignore is that these result from the deregulation of capitalism. Building more houses is just another evasive fix.George TalbotWatford, Hertfordshire |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
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