Jeremy Hunt purchases BTL in name of Ltd co.

Jeremy Hunt purchases BTL in name of Ltd co.

10:51 AM, 27th March 2018, About 6 years ago 51

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Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, has been slammed in the papers for reportedly purchasing seven flats in Southampton in the name of a new limited company.

Karen Buck, Labour MP, told The Sun: “It’s shocking that while renters wait, seemingly forever, for any help from the Tories, the Health Secretary is spending his time buying up loads of properties to let. Surely Jeremy Hunt should understand how this looks at a time when both the NHS and housing are in crisis.

“You couldn’t get a better example of how the Tories are more concerned with looking after their own instead of supporting ordinary people.”

Mr Hunt’s spokesman said: “Jeremy and his wife set up the company as a vehicle through which to make charitable donations and no salaries or dividends will be taken from it for their personal benefit.”

This raises the question of hypocrisy on the one hand with the recent Tory party attacks on Landlords using Section 24 and Stamp Duty surcharges. Then on the other hand Mr Hunt just doing what all landlords are that continue to invest in the PRS by purchasing in a Ltd co. Then gaining business relief on mortgage interest as per standard taxation practices and providing more homes to rent within the PRS that many people cannot afford to buy.

The Apartments are said to be in the upmarket waterfront area of Ocean View Southampton.


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Comments

Luke P

13:44 PM, 16th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 16/04/2018 - 13:27
The following two comments are excellent:

"I have been a Guardian reader for over 30 years and have become used to their casual contempt for landlords and at times lazy analysis of the reasons we are needed (primarily because of insufficient social housing). Landlord bashing is an easy way of letting governments of all colours off the hook because of failures of social policy and investment.
This article is a new low in their ‘reporting’ on the issue. It has greatly distressed me to be likened to Stalin, someone who was responsible for the deaths of over 40 million people, just because I have a couple of houses to prop up my pension.
I look after my tenants, they often stay for years and sometimes come back again years later. Of course standards should be raised across the sector and any initiatives to do so celebrated. This article is hateful and it promotes hate. Shame on you Guardian for giving a platform for hateful rhetoric against any group and worse, for failing tenants by failing to address the underlying causes of poor public housing provision in this country."

...and...

"This is a 2 way relationship between good landlord and also good tenants. I do not let, but all my neighbours do sub-let, and I have to put up with neighbours who assume everything from clearing their dumped rubbish in the common fire exit, responsible recycling, reporting and making small repairs is done by someone else. I have never ever seen a tenant make a even a small repair such as oil a squeeky door, no all they do is moan about it. I have rented myself before and when I approached the landlord to allow me to do a repair and give them the bill for the parts, they were always happy. Rhik's attitude that all landlords are rogues will no doubt mean he will never get on with his and the relationship will be always be sour."

david porter

13:50 PM, 16th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 16/04/2018 - 13:27
This does nothing but undermine the credability of the newspaper.

Sam Wong

14:42 PM, 16th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 16/04/2018 - 13:27
Does this BTL version of ISIS rant deserve any more publicity ?

Whiteskifreak Surrey

14:52 PM, 16th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by sam at 16/04/2018 - 14:42
Quite possibly not. But it is already on Axe the Tenants Tax FB page and it is being shared. Even such ridiculous writing may attack us adversely. I am not sure if it deserves a reply from us - maybe indeed it is not worth the effort. But such hateful tone and utterly ridiculous comparison to Stalin will definitely stuck a chord with a number of pro-tenants organisations and tenants themselves.

david porter

16:37 PM, 16th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 16/04/2018 - 14:52
Do not post on here but
e mail the Guardian which will have more effect.

guardian.letters@theguardian.com

Whiteskifreak Surrey

19:32 PM, 16th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by david porter at 16/04/2018 - 16:37
I am a little bit speachless, which does not happen too often. With all due respect David Porter, where is something stating that such articles must not be posted here? Or are you aiming that specifically at me? I seem to remember that in this community we share that type of publications, simply to made others aware. By all means I can write a letter to Guardian (and I am sure some other people from this site will do, for example our great Dr Ros), but I have not read anywhere that bringing that type of article to attention of the others is explictly not welcome (if not forbidden).

david porter

20:36 PM, 16th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 16/04/2018 - 19:32
eh?
I was suggesting if you e mail the guardian editor directly it would have a much better effect than posting on here. I did e mail the guardian editor and within half an hour the article comments page was closed down? Why not try it your self?

Whiteskifreak Surrey

21:12 PM, 16th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by david porter at 16/04/2018 - 20:36
Will certainly email the Guardian.
By posting here I simply made the others aware of it, did not expect any effect on Guardian itself.
IMHO "Do not post on here" is an imperative and leaves no doubt to an intention of the writer.

Whiteskifreak Surrey

7:51 AM, 17th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by david porter at 16/04/2018 - 20:36
Just for your info David Porter - duly done and sent by email.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

8:12 AM, 17th April 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 17/04/2018 - 07:51
Dr Rosalind Beck is writing a riposte to the article and it will be published here for people to discuss, share and take further action such as complaining to The Guardian, MP's, regulators etc.

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