THE NEW WINDOW TAX.

I don't know if some people remember a month or two ago , receiving a letter from their landlord, one informing them that there would be a person coming round to visit their properties for the purpose of 'stocktaking', the letters were post code exclusive (People who owned their own home were cordially but firmly invited to let a mid ranking civil servant into their home for the purpose I assume).
Although residents were not required by law to allow the officers in (unless the small print was so small it fell through the paper that made up the page, it was insinuated there could be problems that arise from refusing (I must of read too many books
(Labours planned new 'window tax' is seemingly interfering with the ongoing process of gentrification)
about politics and history over the years because my first thought was "its started, first they are collating us and checking up on us, the lucky ones will be used as slave labour at farms, and the rest will be "taught to work". Saying that, no ones yet bothered me for ignoring the landlords visit, not for that reason anyway...).
In the end there was no need for any argy bargy from the Trust because, like the Poll tax (some nineteen years, four months and two days) previously, all that was needed was one or two nice properties, good luxurious amenities, plus outside view of a tree is a bonus, and the 'stocktaking' info sheet for the whole street could be filled in, (a generalisation made for the homes in the street's general financial worth).
Again, like the Poll Tax, a properties worth was not decided using the relative merits of say, a geologist who's job it is to undertake the ground tests that confirm the structural condition of a house, or the health and safety officer checking for any vermin infestations or serious damp problems instance. As any infestation's are between the walls and under/above floors they are not counted as a 'serious' enough matter and so, after the men had finished on their friendly and ever so efficient survey on the worth of all our homes just by standing outside and looking at them from certain angles outside, the results were then sent to a group of governmental bean counters who did their Judas like job and calculated the worth of all our homes.
To be honest, I was bothered by the whole thing from day one when I got my visitation order, "what do they need to do a survey for?" I thought, "they already knew what the layout of my flat was, and they were in possession of the blue prints, they could draw me a map of my own house without ever seeing it, its the same for most residents in the U.K.
Then I found the real reason why while flicking through a 'news' paper, it turns out the government have been looking at ways to squeeze us even tighter so as to get that last drop from our stones. People with 'nice' views out of their windows will be charged more council tax, as will those living within sight of bus stops (despite its destination), those near parks, with views of patios, parking spaces, near the sea, balconies, a well kept garden will even be liable for the 'nice view from the window tax'.
This idea (hopefully one just sitting in the 'put out feelers and see') stage. If true it would herald the return of a new window tax no less, people would be bricking up windows because their wise they might get a nice view of next doors Rhododendron or the council planted tree can be seen out of the front window.
One of the most laughable ideas about this new form of taxation is the way it is laid out, those with single glazing will not have to pay a tax on the expensive single glazing, not keeping the home warm during winter with double glazing is cheaper, but those who have even a partial green scene" who try to retain their heat with double glazing will pay tax for their efforts.
Crafty councils could pretend they have massive green credentials and plant a tree where it would be seen by every house hold while simultaneously earning the council a packet.
This is either going to become law, or Labour are putting out daft election promises because they know they are going to loose anyway, so they are just putting any old stuff out for a laugh, I hope so anyway.