The Leader of Richmond Council has urged the Government to rethink its proposed High Value Council Tax Surcharge, warning the plans could unfairly impact thousands of long-term residents across the borough.

Under proposals currently being consulted on, owners of properties valued at more than £2 million would face an additional council tax charge from 2028.

The proposed surcharge would be split across four bands:

• £2 million to £2.5 million – £2,500
• £2.5 million to £3.5 million – £3,500
• £3.5 million to £5 million – £5,000
• Over £5 million – £7,500

Richmond Council estimates around 5,730 properties in the borough would be affected.

Council leader Councillor Gareth Roberts said: "Many Richmond residents have lived in the same homes for decades, raised families, contributed to their communities and grown older locally and, in many cases, the value of their homes has risen dramatically, while their incomes and personal circumstances have stayed largely the same or even declined.

"What the Government is doing is adopting a quick fix approach to try to solve the broken system of Council Tax.

"If the Government is serious about addressing the issue of local government funding they need to reform the whole system; messing around with a blunt approach such as this helps nobody, particularly given that the entirety raised with this new tax will go to the Treasury and not a penny piece will go to fund services here in Richmond.

"Essentially the Government is seeing Richmond residents as cash cows that they can milk to fix funding gaps elsewhere in the country, irrespective of whether Richmond residents can afford to pay this new tax."

The Council has also raised concerns that the proposals could discourage homeowners from carrying out improvements such as energy efficiency upgrades or accessibility adaptations if the work pushes their property's value above one of the surcharge thresholds.

Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Finance, Councillor Jim Millard, also questioned the proposed deferral scheme, which would allow some residents unable to pay immediately to secure the charge against their home.

He added: "The proposed deferral scheme may help some households postpone payment, but for older residents on fixed incomes and disabled people living in adapted homes, it could still mean a growing debt secured against their property.

"We want the Government to review the proposed income and capital thresholds for deferral. National thresholds may not properly reflect the reality of living costs in London, particularly for households on modest or fixed incomes.

"Before any thresholds are finalised, ministers should carry out detailed, borough-level analysis to understand the likely impact on older residents, disabled residents and others who may struggle to pay."

Richmond Council says it will continue to monitor the Government's proposals and keep residents informed as the consultation progresses.

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