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Sea views 'may attract tax hike'
Living in an area like this could cost you dear, it is claimed
Council tax bills could be increased in England if properties have a scenic view or have golf courses or swimming pools nearby, it is reported.
Homes too in conservation areas or open spaces could see higher bills, say the Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Express.
But the body doing valuations says a sea view would only be considered if it greatly influenced property value.
Homes were last revalued in 1991, and were due to be re-assessed in 2007, but this has been put back to 2010.
On Monday MPs are due to debate plans to let ministers begin the revaluation at a time of their choosing.
The Sunday Telegraph says documentation from John Prescott's Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shows a "new computer assisted mass appraisal system" will help officials obtain specific details on every property in England.
The Conservatives oppose the revaluation while the Liberal Democrats want council tax to be scrapped.
Specific things like a sea view will only have a bearing if they have a significant influence on the overall value of the property
Having a swimming pool or tennis court or having full or partial views of the sea, hills, mountains, lakes or rivers, could add a premium to bills, both papers say.
The Valuation Office Agency, which carries out revaluations, said: "The banding for council tax is based on market value which takes account of a number of factors.
"Specific things like a sea view will only have a bearing if they have a significant influence on the overall value of the property."
Government ministers say the revaluation delay, until after the next general election, means the issue can be considered as part of an inquiry into local authority funding.
At present, council tax is calculated on the basis of eight bands, with owners in a top-rate band H property paying twice as much as people on band D.
A Band D property is one valued in 1991 at between £68,001 and £88,000.
A spokeswoman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said: "The number of properties moving bands would have depended on the government's decision about the banding structure that would have accompanied revaluation.
"And we made no such decision."
They also said that between now and revaluation the Valuation Office Agency was providing a "firm foundation" to work on in the future.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4411486.stm
Living in an area like this could cost you dear, it is claimed
Council tax bills could be increased in England if properties have a scenic view or have golf courses or swimming pools nearby, it is reported.
Homes too in conservation areas or open spaces could see higher bills, say the Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Express.
But the body doing valuations says a sea view would only be considered if it greatly influenced property value.
Homes were last revalued in 1991, and were due to be re-assessed in 2007, but this has been put back to 2010.
On Monday MPs are due to debate plans to let ministers begin the revaluation at a time of their choosing.
The Sunday Telegraph says documentation from John Prescott's Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shows a "new computer assisted mass appraisal system" will help officials obtain specific details on every property in England.
The Conservatives oppose the revaluation while the Liberal Democrats want council tax to be scrapped.
Specific things like a sea view will only have a bearing if they have a significant influence on the overall value of the property
Having a swimming pool or tennis court or having full or partial views of the sea, hills, mountains, lakes or rivers, could add a premium to bills, both papers say.
The Valuation Office Agency, which carries out revaluations, said: "The banding for council tax is based on market value which takes account of a number of factors.
"Specific things like a sea view will only have a bearing if they have a significant influence on the overall value of the property."
Government ministers say the revaluation delay, until after the next general election, means the issue can be considered as part of an inquiry into local authority funding.
At present, council tax is calculated on the basis of eight bands, with owners in a top-rate band H property paying twice as much as people on band D.
A Band D property is one valued in 1991 at between £68,001 and £88,000.
A spokeswoman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said: "The number of properties moving bands would have depended on the government's decision about the banding structure that would have accompanied revaluation.
"And we made no such decision."
They also said that between now and revaluation the Valuation Office Agency was providing a "firm foundation" to work on in the future.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4411486.stm