South West Surrey facing post-election Council Tax shock under Government plans to 'revalue' bands (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

South West Surrey Liberal Democrats <info@swsurreylibdems.org.uk>

South West Surrey facing post-election Council Tax shock under Government plans to 'revalue' bands

February 22, 2005 3:33 PM

Four out of five towns in the South East are in line for massive council tax rises because of the threat of revaluation, new Liberal Democrat research has shown.

Council tax is currently based on property values in April 1991 but the government is updating its valuation figures to take account of changes in property prices since then.

Families in London and the South East will be worst hit, because house prices have risen so much faster in the region than in the rest of the country.

Analysis of the Halifax house price index by the Liberal Democrats shows that 82% of towns in the region have seen prices rise faster than the national average, meaning homes are likely to be moved into higher paying tax bands.

The effect on South West Surrey's three towns, Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere, is 'in the balance' according to Simon Cordon. "Early research shows that Farnham is above the national average in house price rises with Godalming and Haslemere close to average. This makes it uncertain to what extent houses in our area will be put up a band or two. I intend doing more detailed research as this revaluation could hit local people very hard. If houses go up just one band it would put 22% on the Council Tax. In our area, due to poor Government funding and a 92% rise since the Tories regained control of the County Council, Council Tax is already too high", he said.

The Liberal Democrats campaigning to scrap Council Tax

Simon Cordon has been campaigning for an end to the unfair Council Tax

Simon added, "Labour, with Conservative support, is set to turn the warm glow of house price rises into a post election tax timebomb. The government claims Council Tax revaluation will make the system fairer. But this research shows it will be arbitrary, random and unfair".

"Revaluation is a typical Labour stealth tax. Millions of families will see their Council Tax bills rocket once the election is over, but ministers have refused to come clean about it, and the Conservatives have refused to oppose it. The sensible thing to do is to scrap the Council Tax and replace it with the Liberal Democrat idea of a fair local income tax based on ability to pay".