Council tax ‘stealth’ increases

Since the Labour government came to power in 1997 more than 100,000 properties have moved into a higher council tax band because of home improvements. Critics are arguing that the addition of porches, bedrooms, conservatories, parking spaces and treehouses have cost owners on average an extra £200 a year, including more than 27,000 properties mostly in the South East, being bumped up a band in the past two years. The government has said it would re-evaluate council tax after the next election.