Depends on your attitude to risk in terms of maintaining a debt, interest obligation, and lien on "your" property.

I'm very good at keeping my salary low! Too bad you can't put that on your resume.

See. I knew that I wasn't missing the point. Plenty of people pay LESS tax than I do for a whole bunch of reasons.

A good friend of mine is extremely lazy at work.

While all the other guys in the department were awarded salary raises, his assesments were usually so poor that he mostly stayed where he was, and even had his salary cut once or twice.

Then the company merged with another company and his departement was one they felt they could cut back on. As they didn't have time to look at the guys individually they just looked at the costs and this guy got to keep his job while many more able and motivated engineers were made redundant. Furthermore, with nobody left who is more senior than him, there's nobody to dispute his opinion when he says "no, this can't be done".

So don't think laziness won't get you anywhere.

I'm not sure what I said meant that I was lazy.

But if I had his job I would be increasing my salary. So that job is probably not for me!

not sure why there should be benefit for rich retired homeowners who have little or no mortgage when at the same time there are poor retired people with much fewer assets.

i find it hard to by sympathetic to those who have to pay only 20% of rent as tax when others would have to pay the full 100% and tax on the income earned to get this 100%...

what if non-homeowning pensioners made a counter proposal to keep EmW but subsidise instead 80% of the rent that pensioners pay?

Remember that the elderly already benefit from the EmW rules. Unused rooms can be deducted, so when the kids move out you can reduce your EmW burden. All my elderly neighbours have a home office too.

Unused room can be deducted on if they are totally empty of furniture and un-usable. If they are used as guest rooms from time to time and habitable, they are definitely NOT so.

so. anyone want to update with news?

With a cap of £30,000

That would be a no: The system will stay as it is.

See here for more complete details.

ah, yes. i'd forgotten about MIRAS.

let's just scrap EmW and give everyone a tax deduction for rental payments.

then make-up the difference with an increase in general taxation.

would that make everyone happy?

No, of course not. Owners quite rightly feel that they should be getting a better deal than renters, so will never be happy if renters are given tax breaks which removes their superior position.

I'd have thought after all the discussions that would have been obvious to you.