Tens of thousands of homeowners across England, especially in affluent boroughs like Kensington and Chelsea and regions of the South East, could soon face new council tax bands designed to hit the most expensive properties—a move pushed by the current government to squeeze more revenue out of the wealthy. This proposal, reported by The Mail on Sunday, signals a shift towards targeting high-value homes without committing to a full-scale revaluation of all properties—a tactic that critics argue will unfairly penalise homeowners in areas where property prices have skyrocketed since the last valuation over three decades ago.
Currently, council tax bands are based on property values from 1991, meaning that a modest home today could be classified alongside multimillion-pound mansions simply because of outdated valuations. Industry experts have long highlighted the injustice of this system; a property valued at £424,000 in 1991 could today be worth over £2.1 million nationally, and more than £3 million in London’s overheated market. The government’s reluctance to update these bands means the wealthy remain under-taxed relative to their property’s true worth, a situation this government seems intent on changing to shore up revenue ahead of a difficult economic period.
Adding new, higher council tax bands would be a step towards a more “fair” system in the government’s view, though what they see as fairness is often spin. Critics within the opposition and against the political establishment argue that these measures are merely a way to extract more money from those who have already benefited from inflated property markets—those who can’t afford to see their tax bills increase but find their homes increasingly unaffordable. In Kensington and Chelsea, where the average home exceeds £1.8 million, these reforms could place an even heavier burden on homeowners already feeling the squeeze.
This shift aligns with the government’s broader rhetoric about taxing “those with broad shoulders”—a phrase that masks a deeper agenda of redistribution from the productive middle class and wealthy elites to a state desperate for cash. Despite denying plans for a standalone wealth tax, officials are quick to suggest reforms that target wealth through property, which remains the biggest asset class for the rich. Recent reports confirm that measures aimed at the wealthy will feature prominently in the upcoming budget, further emphasizing this government’s focus on revenue extraction rather than genuine reform.
Local authorities stand to benefit from these increased council tax bands, which could help reduce their reliance on central government grants—a welcome change at a time when taxpayer-funded handouts are under scrutiny. Yet, this may come at a cost: the assumption that higher taxes on luxury properties won’t dampen the market or slow investment in high-end real estate, a dangerously optimistic notion. Data already shows sales of properties over £5 million in London have plummeted by 40 percent year-on-year, a clear sign that potential buyers are wary of the government’s fiscal squeeze.
The current system’s reliance on decades-old valuations highlights how out of touch this tax regime is with today’s property market. The government continues to stick with a valuation methodology that no longer reflects real property values, allowing the wealthy to largely escape fair taxation. Introducing updated, more accurate bands would not only bring more fairness but also help protect the integrity of the tax system—something critics argue is long overdue.
As the government prepares to unveil further measures, including £5 billion investment in housing supply and tweaks to stamp duty, it’s clear that revenue-raising remains its primary focus. The proposed new council tax bands for high-value homes are just one tool in a broader strategy aimed at balancing spending commitments with an increasingly strained economy. But for homeowners in London’s elite areas, these measures threaten to deepen the inequality and discontent that fester under a government more interested in taxing success than fostering genuine opportunity.
Source: Noah Wire Services