'50per cent rise in rebanding'

1:20pm Thursday 7th April 2005

Barnet residents could face council tax rises of up to 50 per cent as a result of the Government revaluation of house prices, the Liberal Democrats claimed this week.

Council tax levels are currently based on 1991 house prices, but from Friday the value of every home is being reassessed and taxpayers in houses with a higher than average price rise face much higher bills.

Barnet’s house prices have rocketed by 261 per cent since 1991, 101 per cent higher than the national average, and revaluation will push many homeowners up two, or three council tax bands, Sean Hooker, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Chipping Barnet claimed.

The Lib Dems want to replace the council tax with a local income tax.

For Labour, local government minister Nick Raynsford has emphasised that the total yield will not increase, and that those who jump bands will be given ‘transitional protection’.

Councillor Victor Lyon, Tory leader of Barnet Council, said: “These re-banding plans are truly monstrous. As usual, it is not enough that Government is moving £18 to £20 billion each year from London to the north and Midlands.” lmarzouk@london.newsquest.co.uk