Council Tax Revaluation 'Bombshell'

12.52.45pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 3rd Feb 2005

Research published yesterday (by the Liberal Democrats) shows that many local residents would face a massive council tax increase when properties are revalued next September. They were last valued in 1991 and since then prices have risen by 234% in Teddington - the highest recorded of any area in the London area - 180% in Richmond, 176% in Twickenham and 158% in Hampton. There is likely to be a two band jump.

Twickenham MP Vincent Cable said: "Our work, at national level, based on what happened in the Welsh revaluation last year, suggests that local council tax payers face a very nasty shock. As a result of being moved up two or three bands, following house price increases, residents will find themselves paying £300 a year more over and above any increases introduced by the council. Many pensioners in particular will find this very hard since their incomes have not increased by anything like that amount."

"The threat of revaluation will bring back into focus the whole future of council tax which is regressive and deeply disliked, bearing little relation to peoples' ability to pay".