The survey cited doesn't mention the Mansion tax, so the Times points to a 'general feeling'
A spectre is haunting London – the spectre of Labour’s Mansion tax. Fears over the proposed charge on £2million homes are driving down house prices in London, despite a rise in prices in the rest of the country. The Times has the scoop: ‘Mansion tax fears depress house prices across London’.
If we leave aside for a moment whether house prices in London couldn’t do with a bit of depression, what evidence is there that ‘Mansion tax-dread’ is the cause of this drop in prices?
Well, there isn’t any – at least, not in the Times story, which cites a survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for February, released today, which found a rise in house prices nationally, and a price decrease in London.
Trouble is, the survey doesn’t mention the Mansion tax, either in its sample of responses or in it’s analysis. Neither does the RISC’s press release on its website. In fact, the only link made between lower prices in London and the Labour policy is in the Times piece itself:
“London homeowners are wary about moving because of extra fees and taxes they might face from a new government in May. Labour has already promised a tax on properties worth more than £2million, and there is a general feeling that politicians will step up their efforts to tap into property wealth for money to fund public spending.”
Ah yes, a “general feeling”. No evidence is provided for this assertion, or for “wariness” among homeowners.
Of the scores of RICS members quoted in the survey, which are only a sample of the 324 responses collected, just two mention the Mansion tax, and only one of these is based in London.
And with house prices rising nationally, and Labour’s policy intended for the whole country, why is this fear of the Mansion tax only gripping London?
Besides all of that, a 28 per cent drop in the ludicrously high price of a home in London will be music to the ears of many potential buyers. A report from the charity Shelter recently found the average house price in London is now almost 15 times the average wage.
Plus the Mansion tax will only affect homes worth over £2million – less than 0.5 per cent of all homes in the country – and only when the owners earn more than £42,000 a year.
So if the Times is going to claim fears about Labour’s Mansion tax are driving down house prices in London, their evidence ought to be more than a “feeling”.
Adam Barnett is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter
64 Responses to “Media Watch: Times blames Mansion tax fears for London house price drop. But where’s the evidence?”
Lesmond Nyjacks
Leon, you vile totalitarian Marxist, why do you constantly spray your vile excrement?
Your evil doctrine has a 100% failure rate, just give up, Socialism is disgusting and evil, with no redeeming characteristics, just like you.
Lesmond Nyjacks
“I pay tax due, unlike you.”
You disgusting marxist clown, you have no idea of how much tax I pay, you wanking chimp.
Tax paid by working people like myself keeps a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food in your belly.
Stop disrespecting us you evil communist.
If it was not for the working people in this country (that you despise and hate) you would be starving in a ditch, you have never done an honest days work in your life, you worthless sack of shit.
You evil communist.
Lesmond Nyjacks
Ah, Leon you stupid boy.
I did not “scream that I must hold your views”
more projection, you vile marxist.
Say NO to deathcamps.
Say NO to communism.
Say no to Leon/Guest.
Lesmond Nyjacks
You utter wanker Leon, you vile heartless marxist.
Lesmond Nyjacks
Leon, you would very defiantly like a change to the voting system, votes only for those in the POLITBURO, infact, votes only for people like yourself, or, in an ideal world votes only for YOURSELF, you disgusting communist.