Over 60s Should Be Encouraged To Downsize

We are forgetting that the housing shortage is not the fault of those who own their house ,instead of looking for scapegoats and suggesting that they should downsize and vacate houses that very few would be able to afford anyway ,the government should apply tax breaks to house builders .It is suggested to give tax breaks to over sixties so instead give tax breaks to the builders or free up more land as has already been suggested ,there are many ways that the builders could be encouraged to build more houses other than high selling prices

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by martyh

We are forgetting that the housing shortage is not the fault of those who own their house ,instead of looking for scapegoats and suggesting that they should downsize and vacate houses that very few would be able to afford anyway ,the government should apply tax breaks to house builders .It is suggested to give tax breaks to over sixties so instead give tax breaks to the builders or free up more land as has already been suggested ,there are many ways that the builders could be encouraged to build more houses other than high selling prices

Given the amount the planks paid for land in many cases their options are limited.

[Caff]

Originally Posted by Damien

Another thing seems to be the older generations benefited from getting there first. Being part of an era where it was a lot more feasible to buy properties as an investment and then watching as limited stocks meant the value shot right up and put the idea of owning a home out of reach of the generations that follow...

Maybe that's just me being blinded by my own personal interest but the whole thing seems immoral and unsustainable. I wouldn't go so far as too tell people that their homes are too big for their needs and they are obliged to downsize but we really should do something about people who see property as route to the rich life and screw society.

"Getting there first" wasn't the thought on my mind. My thoughts were to find a small palace to rest my head with the one I love. I've/We've earned every penny to buy those bricks and we haven't finished yet.

Originally Posted by Caff

"Getting there first" wasn't the thought on my mind. My thoughts were to find a small palace to rest my head with the one I love. I've/We've earned every penny to buy those bricks and we haven't finished yet.

I wasn't talking about people who own a home, I was talking about people who own multiple homes with the intention of using them as a way to make money. Buy-to-let landlords as so on. They had the capital to monopolise a finite resource that people need and drives prices up screwing those that come after.

[ntluser]

I just wonder who is going to buy the homes of these downsizing over 60s given that most young people are unable to get a mortgage.

It is also worth noting that many over 60's may have elderly parents or children who for one reason or another are still living at the over 60s homes.

Given that there are plenty of vacant homes that could be repaired, maybe the government could give local authorities or housing trusts the powers and the funds to buy said properties at auction, do them up and rent them out or sell them on at low cost.

If the government are that concerned about the difficulty in obtaining homes maybe they should take the homes of career criminals and put them up in prison as they deserve.

Why should law-abiding people who have worked all their lives and paid their taxes be forced out of their homes simply because they are over 60? Are all the MPs who are over 60 going to sell their mansions to live in a 2 up 2 down or a retirement home? I don't think so.

Time to consign this idea where it belongs.In the rubbish bin.

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

Given the amount the planks paid for land in many cases their options are limited.

The rarety of residential land is the cause for that ,if the government free up more green belt land (as suggested) then the price should fall ,whether it would fall to prices as low as they where 20yrs ago is another matter

In 1983, a hectare cost just £75,000, meaning land prices in the capital have risen by 624%. Land prices in Wales have grown the fastest. In 1983, a hectare cost just £85,000. By the end of 2002, this had soared to £980,000 - a 1,053% increase. Across the UK, land prices have risen from £174,000 a hectare to nearly £1.6m - an increase of 808%. The most expensive area of the country to build in besides London is the Home Counties. (e.g. Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire).

http://www.advice-landforsale.co.uk/...e-regional.htm

---------- Post added at 17:12 ---------- Previous post was at 17:06 ----------

Originally Posted by ntluser

I just wonder who is going to buy the homes of these downsizing over 60s given that most young people are unable to get a mortgage.

It is also worth noting that many over 60's may have elderly parents or children who for one reason or another are still living at the over 60s homes.

Given that there are plenty of vacant homes that could be repaired, maybe the government could give local authorities or housing trusts the powers and the funds to buy said properties at auction, do them up and rent them out or sell them on at low cost.

If the government are that concerned about the difficulty in obtaining homes maybe they should take the homes of career criminals and put them up in prison as they deserve.

Why should law-abiding people who have worked all their lives and paid their taxes be forced out of their homes simply because they are over 60? Are all the MPs who are over 60 going to sell their mansions to live in a 2 up 2 down or a retirement home? I don't think so.

Time to consign this idea where it belongs.In the rubbish bin.

A) Local Authorities already buy properties in need of repair from owners who cannot afford to modernize ,they are called "Aquired Properties"

B)no-one is suggesting that home owners get "forced out" of their homes they would be offered lower or zero stamp duty as a incentive to sell

[Caff]

Originally Posted by Damien

I wasn't talking about people who own a home, I was talking about people who own multiple homes with the intention of using them as a way to make money. Buy-to-let landlords as so on. They had the capital to monopolise a finite resource that people need and drives prices up screwing those that come after.

Apologies, Damien
I still want to scoot my 2 boys out though
And a holiday home/weekend bolt hole will always be out of the question
I do feel for locals who cannot even get a first entry home.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by ntluser

Why should law-abiding people who have worked all their lives and paid their taxes be forced out of their homes simply because they are over 60? Are all the MPs who are over 60 going to sell their mansions to live in a 2 up 2 down or a retirement home? I don't think so.

Time to consign this idea where it belongs.In the rubbish bin.

No-one said that, nor did this come from the government. Please read at very least some articles if not the entire report.

Nothing personal against you but that amount of people who seem to think this report advocated housing squads knocking on people's doors and forcibly evicting them is crazy, it advocates nothing of the sort.

---------- Post added at 17:21 ---------- Previous post was at 17:20 ----------

Originally Posted by danielf

European = Bad. It's in the rulez...

Europe is great, as are most Europeans, just the EU that is ****.

[Traduk]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

No-one said that, nor did this come from the government. Please read at very least some articles if not the entire report.

Nothing personal against you but that amount of people who seem to think this report advocated housing squads knocking on people's doors and forcibly evicting them is crazy, it advocates nothing of the sort.

---------- Post added at 17:21 ---------- Previous post was at 17:20 ----------



Europe is great, as are most Europeans, just the EU that is ****.

It initially struck me that the founders and principals of the intergenerational foundation might be led by a tree hugger who lived the life of a super eco friendly existence and actually believed in righting the supposed injustices within certain areas of UK life.

A little investigative journalism paints a different picture. Do as I say not what I do comes to mind

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2052351/The-man-says-pensioners-leave-nest-homes--1-5m-bedroom-des-res-parents-live-alone.html

[Ignitionnet]

Nice character assassination piece that one. The guy rather shot himself in the backside making excuses for his parents.

Doesn't for a moment change the perfectly valid nature of the report though, the tax system is biased against downsizing hence far lower rates of it than elsewhere in the developed world, which is causing issues.

It's not that complex and I've absolutely no idea why this is so controversial, it's far less controversial than proposals to charge land value tax, though both are quite reasonable if implemented correctly.

[colin25]

I've have noticed quite a few over 60s looking very plump..down sizing won't hurt them too much. They could use being on a diet

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by colin25

I've have noticed quite a few over 60s looking very plump..down sizing won't hurt them too much. They could use being on a diet

I wouldn't go that far, hard to be mobile and BMR drops so easier to put the tonnage on.

What is a bit of a Mod Edit take is those situations where there's wringing of hands over how to heat a property twice the size actually required, and completely non-means tested payments to do so.

[colin25]

Yes, i have to think that when resources are tight, means testing must be in.

But equally, there are those who don't save for a pension...prefer getting drunk.

That has got to be a factor

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

I wouldn't go that far, hard to be mobile and BMR drops so easier to put the tonnage on.

What is a bit of a Mod Edit take is those situations where there's wringing of hands over how to heat a property twice the size actually required, and completely non-means tested payments to do so.

There are already quite a few people who upon reaching retirement do actually downsize already ,they sell the big 1940's detached house or whatever and buy a 2 bed bungalow using any excess cash to add to the pension fund ,most people will do that as a matter of course

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by martyh

There are already quite a few people who upon reaching retirement do actually downsize already ,they sell the big 1940's detached house or whatever and buy a 2 bed bungalow using any excess cash to add to the pension fund ,most people will do that as a matter of course

It's still half the rate it is elsewhere, clearly there's something stopping them, the tax system is at least part of it.