Living in mansions or poverty

Published: 6 May, 2010

• A SIMPLE equation for Rupert Sheldrake (‘Mansion Tax’ punitive, Election Letters, April 29) living space equals money.
Does it seem fair to you that many retired people are living in mansions of over £1million when, in reality, their space requirements are much lower?
A £1million mansion can be easily divided into flats that may accommodate a few homeless families.
Your mortgage calculations seem not only wrong but politically motivated.
Those that want to live alone in a single mansion are not necessarily, as you call them, “retired people on modest pensions” but may be very rich retired people that have chosen to live in mansions of enormous size in Hampstead.
Willow Road was never home to “retired people with modest pensions” but a very rich “sanatorium” for retired people.
Can they afford a £20,000 a year tax?
I bet they can.
If they can’t, a £20,000 investment to transform a mansion into a block of flats is the most obvious solution, and they will get a return by selling one flat at £300,000 (minimum).
People should be socially responsible and pay for the privilege to live in such properties.
The money will help others to move away from living in dire poverty.
CATALIN DRAGOMIR
Methamorphic Community Interest Company, NW2