Sticks and carrots

This government is so f***ing stupid, it beggars belief.

House prices are at a dangerous all time high, and for most people, unaffordable. 83% of us are NIMBYs who don't want any more houses to be built. However, there are anything up to one million vacant homes in the UK. The government has come up with all sorts of tax breaks and wizard wheezes to try and persuade owners to bring them back into use, see here for a fascinating overview.

Tax breaks cost money; that means, all things being equal, people who don't own a vacant property (i.e. most of us) have to pay slightly more tax. Seems pretty f***ing unfair.

How about introducing Land Value Tax*, payable irrespective of whether property is in use or not? The tax stick would bring more properties back into use than the tax break carrot. And, all things being equal, the vast majority who don't own a vacant property would be paying a bit less tax.

Doesn't this seem a lot fairer?

* Click 'Land Value Tax' label for suggestions as to how it might work in practice and which taxes would be replaced.