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DIY may boost council tax bills

DIY may boost council tax bills

People who make substantial home improvements - such as loft conversions - may face higher council tax bills, it has been confirmed.

The government's Valuation Office (VOA) has confirmed that improvements could push property into a higher council tax band during council tax revaluation.

There comes a point under a high tax regime where it becomes a disincentive to better your lifestyle. That point would seem to be now.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Q&A: Council tax revaluation

BBC NEWS | Politics | Q&A: Council tax revaluation

Does the fact my home has more than doubled in value since 1991 mean I will automatically go into a higher band?

No, it depends whether your house has gone up by more or less than the average. In a simple words, if all our homes had gone up by the same percentage since 1991, we would all stay in the same band. All you would have to do would be to change the price label on that band. But in the real world, some houses have increased in value more than others.

Think about this... You are being penalised for something that is completely out of your control.

Your income may have dropped over the last few years, but if your house price rises by more than the national average, you are stuffed.

Not that I would advocate local income tax. I earn a good wage. Why should I pay twice as much as my next door neighbour for the exact same level of service?

Council tax bills increase by twice rate of inflation - Britain - Times Online

Council tax bills increase by twice rate of inflation - Britain - Times Online

COUNCIL tax bills will rise by more than twice the rate of inflation next month, with even bigger increases predicted for the next two years.

Opposition parties gave warning yesterday that householders faced soaring bills after the general election when homes will be revalued.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats pointed out that the average council tax bill had risen above £1,000 for the first time after increases of more than 74 per cent since Labour came to power in 1997.

Don't say you haven't been warned.

What is the point of this blog?

Council tax is not cheap and it is rising at an unsustainable rate. Mine has nearly doubled since I moved to Milton Keynes in 1998.

This is a political hot potato. Rises are well above inflation yet service levels are dropping. Central government are being forced to cap councils or they risk losing votes.

Looking around the town I have to wonder where all the money is going. Increasing vandalism and increasing levels of litter are just two problems that are starting to make MK a less attractive place to live.

The council give you a leaflet at the beginning of the new council tax year telling you how they intend to spend your hard earned money. What I want is a receipt a the end of the year to tell me exactly where it did go!

I want to use this blog to put pressure on MK Council to give coucil tax payers value for money. Over the coming months I am going to fill this site with pictures of all the problems the council should be addressing.

Feel free to email me any problems you think need highlighted (pictures would be nice, but not essential) and I'll stick them on here.