Government minister defines 'the very rich'

Housing Minister Grant Shapps yesterday defined 'the very rich.' 

And whilst earning between £60,000 to £100,000 is more than adequate for anyone to live on, it may come as a surprise to anyone doing so that they are 'very rich.'

Shapps, never the brightest button in the box, made his comments as the Department for Communities and Local Government released consultation proposals to try and force high-income tenants in social housing to pay more. 

This is what it says on the DCLG site says:- 

The proposals published for consultation today would see high-income tenants - for example those earning above £60,000 or £100,000 - potentially paying up to market rents if they want to continue living in taxpayer-subsidised housing.

The move could see tens of thousands of high earning social tenants paying market rents to continue living in their social homes.

Mr Shapps said that with millions of people languishing on waiting lists, it was right that those who could afford it 'pay to stay' in homes that should be helping those in the greatest housing need.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said:

"For far too long, millions of people on waiting lists have watched helplessly as high-earning social tenants continue to occupy homes designed to help the most vulnerable. These high-income tenants are not only blocking homes that could benefit those in greater housing need, they're also relying on poorer taxpayers to subsidise their lifestyle.
"A lazy consensus about the use of social housing has left landlords powerless to deal with this problem. So we want to call time on this blatant unfairness and these handouts to the very rich. Proposals I've announced today will give landlords the option to charge high-earning social tenants a fair level of rent - so if they want to continue using this precious national resource, they will pay for the privilege."