If you operate HMOs you probably know that you are in the sights of the VOA (Valuations Office Agency). They have been using HMOs as their personal piggy bank and acting like the Sheriff of Nottingham for nearly a decade. The VOA have been arbitrarily treating normal bedrooms as dwellings.
The knock on effect has been devastating for landlords, agents, rent-to-rent operators and the most vulnerable people in PRS.
Well, fear not, because a group of heroes are fighting back!
Daryn Brewer and Wendy Whittaker-Large are leading the charge to stop this unfair practice and stop operators being lumped with a higher tax bill. They have been at the front lines, fighting and lobbying on our behalf. Wendy and Daryn have conducted one of the most successful landlord campaigns I can think of and with the help of the HMO Council Tax committee - they've had a string of successes.
They, however, need your help to get this over the finishing line. It's a once in a generation opportunity to take back the power from the VOA!
So what's going on? The VOA has been using its "discretion" to re-band HMOs and charge HMO operators & tenants higher taxes. Daryn and Wendy, however, are proposing amendment NC7 to the "Levelling Up Bill" that is currently going through parliament.
There's a consultation underway and your voice matters. The good news is that we have put together a handy document with draft responses to make it easy for you to submit your response and have your say.
Now, we know consultations aren't exactly the most exciting thing in the world. They're like the broccoli of the political process - but trust us, this is important. To make things easier we have a "CHEAT SHEET" for you. We have given you the ideal answers to the questions. You can copy the answers word for word or adapt them for your own purposes! We would also encourage you to send this to your tenants as well so they will not be on the receiving end of this unfair tax.
Together, we can put an end to room rebanding and keep more of our hard-earned cash in our pockets. Let's show the VOA that we're not just a bunch of easy targets.
Please click the link and enter your email address, and you will receive an e-mail with all the information you need including:
A document you can simply copy and paste into an e-mail if you so wish and amend accordingly (also available for download).
A document you can send to your tenants for them to copy and paste into an e-mail.
HMO & COUNCIL TAX REFORM GROUP
