In light of recent media reports regarding potential policy changes to Negative Gearing and Capital Gains Tax (CGT), what is the practical perspective within the OzB community?
Should government reassess property investment and the claims associated with it?
Keeping rental income below the property expenses is needed for negative gearing to be used.
If negative gearing is abolished, rental prices will surely rise as landlords will raise the price to compensate.
For me personally, negative gearing allows me to afford to keep my property, and allows me to keep the rent at a reasonable rate for the tenants.
I board elsewhere and i rent it out whilst paying it off and the expenses (mortgage, bodycorp, rates, maintenance, property management fees) are more than the rental income, which allows for the negative gearing.
I don't depreciate because the property is too old - many people don't realise that you cant depreciate if the property is older than 40 years.
I'm sure there are those that abuse the system, but misuse doesn't warrant abolishment, it warrants crackdowns on people abusing the system.
It doesn't make a huge difference day to day, but come tax time that extra bit of refund really helps with the costs of living.