Anna Clarke
@annaclarke.bsky.social
Policy and Public Affairs at The Housing Forum. Interested in UK housing policy, planning, economics, housebuilding, energy, social policy. Views are my own. Cambridge based. https://housingforum.org.uk/
That avoids the tax (or gets it back into your pension) though I'm not sure you'd show up in the graph as having a £50k income if you in fact earned £60k and paid £10 into pension (non salary sacrifice)?
November 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM
That avoids the tax (or gets it back into your pension) though I'm not sure you'd show up in the graph as having a £50k income if you in fact earned £60k and paid £10 into pension (non salary sacrifice)?
Paying into a salary sacrifice pension scheme surely the easiest and most common way to hold your income below the higher rate threshold?
November 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Paying into a salary sacrifice pension scheme surely the easiest and most common way to hold your income below the higher rate threshold?
The ASB doesn't need to reach a criminal trial in order to be sufficient for evicting a tenant. But there does need to be clear proof of it, with witnesses prepared to testify. Can be trickly especially with HMOs where witnesses are other tenants/housemates.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The ASB doesn't need to reach a criminal trial in order to be sufficient for evicting a tenant. But there does need to be clear proof of it, with witnesses prepared to testify. Can be trickly especially with HMOs where witnesses are other tenants/housemates.
That is a concern - as landlords liked that S21 allowed them to get rid of a bad tenant without having to prove ASB (which can be tricky to prove - rent arrears are more black and white). Though I'm not convinced many landlords ever take a risky tenant if they have a choice.
November 14, 2025 at 10:35 AM
That is a concern - as landlords liked that S21 allowed them to get rid of a bad tenant without having to prove ASB (which can be tricky to prove - rent arrears are more black and white). Though I'm not convinced many landlords ever take a risky tenant if they have a choice.
It doesn't make sense because it's all just rumours and speculation at this point.
November 14, 2025 at 8:50 AM
It doesn't make sense because it's all just rumours and speculation at this point.
Not strictly speaking an end to "no fault" evictions as landlords will still be allowed to evict to sell, live in the home, or use it for a close family member. But an end to "no good reason" evictions.
November 13, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Not strictly speaking an end to "no fault" evictions as landlords will still be allowed to evict to sell, live in the home, or use it for a close family member. But an end to "no good reason" evictions.
It's not just that - we took those higher lands prices and extracted much of it to pay for new schools, GP surgeries, roads, social housing, biodiversity and higher building standards. We'd have to lose a lot to be able to build a house for the amount an average single earner could afford.
November 13, 2025 at 11:14 PM
It's not just that - we took those higher lands prices and extracted much of it to pay for new schools, GP surgeries, roads, social housing, biodiversity and higher building standards. We'd have to lose a lot to be able to build a house for the amount an average single earner could afford.
Or Government for putting the budget so late in the autumn it leaves weeks and weeks for speculation?
November 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Or Government for putting the budget so late in the autumn it leaves weeks and weeks for speculation?
There's discussions ongoing re solar panels and mechanical ventilation. But total consensus that new homes will be off gas once the new standard comes in. Government just needs to ensure the grid can cope first.
November 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
There's discussions ongoing re solar panels and mechanical ventilation. But total consensus that new homes will be off gas once the new standard comes in. Government just needs to ensure the grid can cope first.
I think she'll take until the middle of next year just to read out the budget statement if everything rumoured is in it!
November 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I think she'll take until the middle of next year just to read out the budget statement if everything rumoured is in it!
Yes I think that's probably right. I actually don't have any living close male relatives (and was excluding my husband - who does send kisses!) But a lot of women use them all the time, just as a kind of friendly sign off.
November 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Yes I think that's probably right. I actually don't have any living close male relatives (and was excluding my husband - who does send kisses!) But a lot of women use them all the time, just as a kind of friendly sign off.
An increase in fuel duty would be a much more effective lever, and would preserve the intended purpose of the congestion charge, which is to deter people driving into central London. EVs are often large and a particular problem in crowded streets.
November 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM
An increase in fuel duty would be a much more effective lever, and would preserve the intended purpose of the congestion charge, which is to deter people driving into central London. EVs are often large and a particular problem in crowded streets.
Isn't kisses on messages a proxy for gender? I've very rarely seen kisses on messages from men, but women do it all the time. And surely men aren't putting kisses on their messages to each other?
November 13, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Isn't kisses on messages a proxy for gender? I've very rarely seen kisses on messages from men, but women do it all the time. And surely men aren't putting kisses on their messages to each other?
Doesn't an electric car contribute just as much to congestion as a petrol car?
November 13, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Doesn't an electric car contribute just as much to congestion as a petrol car?
We've been using youtube for podcasts about careers in housing and construction if that's of any interest? www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_...
The Housing Forum
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
We've been using youtube for podcasts about careers in housing and construction if that's of any interest? www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_...
I think we all misunderstood it as a housing strategy for the long term. But in fact they meant a housing strategy that's written over the long term...... Maybe it'll be out in time for their 2029 manifesto?
November 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I think we all misunderstood it as a housing strategy for the long term. But in fact they meant a housing strategy that's written over the long term...... Maybe it'll be out in time for their 2029 manifesto?
HMOs play a vital role in allowing more people/households to live in the insufficient number of homes we have. Not everyone can stay at home with their parents - so those who need to live independently get increasingly stuck as we try to crack down on them.
November 12, 2025 at 3:06 PM
HMOs play a vital role in allowing more people/households to live in the insufficient number of homes we have. Not everyone can stay at home with their parents - so those who need to live independently get increasingly stuck as we try to crack down on them.
I agree the family home allowance makes no sense. I was just pointing out that in practice pretty much everyone who has children, and would be anywhere near paying inheritance tax, gets it.
November 12, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I agree the family home allowance makes no sense. I was just pointing out that in practice pretty much everyone who has children, and would be anywhere near paying inheritance tax, gets it.
That's true - though I think even if you removed stamp duty, there are huge social/psychological costs of moving. It's one of life's most stressful events, and all the harder if you're old and have a lot of stuff. People have to gamble on their future needs and hard to see a way round that.
November 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
That's true - though I think even if you removed stamp duty, there are huge social/psychological costs of moving. It's one of life's most stressful events, and all the harder if you're old and have a lot of stuff. People have to gamble on their future needs and hard to see a way round that.
With hindsight you can look at some older people who should have moved sooner, before their health declined. But others live out their whole retirement in one home very happily and die without moving. So it's hard to say upfront.
November 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM
With hindsight you can look at some older people who should have moved sooner, before their health declined. But others live out their whole retirement in one home very happily and die without moving. So it's hard to say upfront.
Renting simply at time of death doesn't matter - you can still get the family home allowance if you've previously owned or downsized.
November 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Renting simply at time of death doesn't matter - you can still get the family home allowance if you've previously owned or downsized.
How many people with over £1m (per couple) would have rented all their lives? Would be very unusual. And if your wealth is money rather than property, you can simply pass it on during your lifetime usually, and avoid any inheritance tax.
November 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
How many people with over £1m (per couple) would have rented all their lives? Would be very unusual. And if your wealth is money rather than property, you can simply pass it on during your lifetime usually, and avoid any inheritance tax.