TAXATION OF SHOW-HOMES

That this House notes that the new housing market is a vital sector of the British economy and that housebuilders are currently providing a wide range of products as prices which are extremely competitive; further notes that the price of buying a home is the largest single cost that most families will ever incur; notes that show-homes are an essential element of the marketing activities undertaken by housebuilders; believes that show-houses should be considered to be the demonstration stock of the industry or as unoccupied residential property; regrets the recent Rating Tribunal decision which has led to many local authorities deciding to tax such properties as business premises which are thus liable for the uniform business rate: notes that this decision saddles the emerging housing market with additional costs of some ú5 million per annum: and invites Her Majesty's Government to bring forward proposals to reverse this unfair decision.