Why you need to contact your MP

As part of our campaign to reverse the Government’s Budget proposals restricting finance cost relief for individual landlords we are aiming to lobby all MPs in the UK – and as many times as possible. 

We are asking that everyone who is against this proposal firstly signs this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/104880

Secondly, and as importantly, we are asking that you write to your MP and preferably follow this up with a visit to your MP’s surgery.

It will be the case for some that you may live in one constituency and have rental houses in other constituencies. Please send emails to all the MPs that are applicable to you.

In order to keep track and make sure we leave no-one out, can you please post in the comments section below the following details:

1. Name of MP contacted via email/letter.
2. Constituency of the MP.
3. Date(s) letters/emails sent.
4. Whether you have spoken to the MP face-to-face and/or made an appointment to see him/her in their surgery.

If you get any response other than an automated reply or acknowledgement, please paste the text in the comments section below, remembering to ensure the full name of the MP and Constituency is included.

Also, later on (bearing in mind MPs’ absences during the summer recess), please also report back on their attitude towards the Budget proposal.

I will be keeping a spreadsheet, to make sure we miss no-one out.

Contacting MPs and persuading them of our case is going to be key to our success in overturning this illogical, unjust and discriminatory proposal. You may be the only person who writes to your MP, so it is very important not to assume someone else will already have done so.

We should especially be looking out for MPs who might be willing to champion our cause as well as those who will be willing to vote against the Finance Bill. If you feel your MP falls into this category, please let us know in the comments section below.

The following is a link to a website with contact details of your MP >>> https://www.writetothem.com/

Below is a sample email/letter to MP’s you may wish to adapt, if you don’t have the time to write one from scratch:

Adjust as necessary, e.g. if you are not a constituent but own property in the constituency, or if you want to add something about the MP’s party’s stance on it etc.

Dear [Name of MP]

I am writing to you as one of your constituents, my address is [ add your address and postcode here]

I am writing with regard to the latest attack on landlords in the Budget, through the proposals to restrict ‘tax relief’ for landlords. Many landlords have been confused about the terminology “tax relief”, so many still don’t realise the effects this would have on their businesses and on the wider economy.

Aafter seeking clarification from HMRC, I have realised that what is really being proposed is that the cost of interest, which is our biggest cost in running our businesses, has been re-defined as ‘income,’ which can be taxed. Obviously, this makes no sense, and this is the verdict of the chief economists who reported to the Treasury Select Committee on the Summer Budget.

If this is to be a new principle of taxation, why aren’t all businesses in the UK facing this bizarre proposal?

Buy-to-let is not a simple, ‘hands-off investment’ as it is sometimes portrayed; it is a very labour-intensive business, often very stressful and for many of us constitutes a full-time job, whereby we work and are on call 7 days a week, including evenings.

Unfortunately, the failure to understand our business (ignorance, by another word), has led to the Government announcing this illogical and unjust proposal.

I am hoping you can use your influence and your vote to help quash this measure.

You will find more details of the proposal on this link to the Property118 landlords forum – LINK >>> http://www.property118.com/?p=76936

The information there will help you to be fully informed, but if you have any questions please let me know and I will endeavour to answer them.

I will be coming to meet you soon at one of your surgeries to discuss this in person.

Yours sincerely

[add your name here]

Related articles – LINK

http://www.property118.com/category/budget-2015-campaign/

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