SAN FERNANDO EAST MP Brian Manning has issued a stark warning that Trinidad and Tobago’s proposed landlord tax could trigger widespread homelessness, escalating his political confrontation with Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo. The former finance ministry minister challenged the government’s characterization of the tax as fundamentally different from previous property tax proposals.
In a December 9th phone interview, Manning systematically dismantled the government’s position, asserting that the landlord tax mirrors the very property tax structure that the current administration previously opposed. He revealed the tax operates on two tiers: 2.5% on annual rental income below $20,000 and 3.5% on gross annual rental income exceeding that threshold.
“This version actually proves more expensive than what the PNM had been proposing,” Manning stated, highlighting what he called the government’s “bold-face hypocrisy.” He emphasized that even homeowners renting single rooms would be subject to the tax, potentially forcing residential property classifications to commercial status.
The MP particularly criticized the $2,500 registration fee, noting landlords must pay this substantial amount before generating any rental income. He contextualized this within broader fiscal measures including electricity surcharges, increased alcohol costs, and new fees on imported goods through container processing charges and doubled customs declaration fees.
Manning expressed grave concern for vulnerable populations, specifically mentioning former CEPEP and URP workers who lost their livelihoods under current policies. “The Minister of Finance, after putting 50,000 people on the breadline overnight, is now trying to also put them on the street,” he declared, predicting these measures would inevitably increase living costs beyond what many citizens can afford.
The controversial tax legislation, detailed in the Finance Bill 2025, already passed the Lower House on December 5th and is currently undergoing Senate debate. Manning condemned the overall budget as “the most mismatched, thoughtless, confused budget that I have seen in my entire life,” warning it could decimate multiple industries while creating a housing crisis potentially requiring government-provided free housing for displaced citizens.