There are about 200,000 Brits n France who own holiday homes there. Sarkozy proposes to hit them with a 20% tax based on the rental value of that property. This means that a £350,000 two bedroom house in Normandy would attract an additional property tax of around £700 per annum. The new tax comes in to effect in January next year.
Understandably, the poor hard up owners of the these SECOND homes are up in arms, bleating that having to find an extra grand so they can maintain TWO houses will bankrupt them and force them to sell! This is, of course, complete and utter bullshit. If you can afford £350,000 for a spare house, then you can afford £700 in extra taxes.
We have an extensive building program in this country to house our expanding population. For some time now I have felt that it is obscene that houses stand empty because rich people - and frankly anyone who can afford two homes can in no way be considered poor - want to own a status symbol. Fair enough, if you can afford two houses, then I support your right to do so. This is, after all, a democracy. But please don't insult my intelligence by telling me you can't afford to pay for the privilege.
In the north of Norfolk, there are dozens of villages blighted by the second homes of Londoners looking for a weekend or holiday retreat. These towns are deserted during the week. If locals wanted to live there they would find no local economy because the weekenders bring all their stuff with them. House prices are pushed beyond their reach because of the demand for boltholes. There is little or no commerce or industry.
It is a national scandal that there are people in this country who cannot afford a home while we blight vast areas with holiday homes for the affluent.
So I am with Sarkozy on this one. Let's think about putting a few billion in the tax coffers by taxing second homes in this country. The owners can afford it...
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