Insurance News Archive
Hips to raise council tax
Those who buy a property next year that comes complete with a Home Information Pack (Hip) could receive an unwanted surprise when they get their council tax bill.
It is thought that the most expensive part of the Hip will be the Home Condition Report (HCR), which will contain details of all the features of the property, reports the website In2Perspective.
The Conservative Party have now revealed that government inspectors in charge of assessing properties for the next council tax revaluation will have access to these HCRs.
When these revaluations are complete it is believed that many people could face large council tax rises.
"We do take into account the possibility that the register could be of value in making broad assessments of the condition of the housing stock," former housing minister, Keith Hill, told the website.
However, a government spokesman commented to the Sunday Telegraph that they will be setting out who has access to the register and no one will have access for tax purposes. 
© Adfero Ltd
27 Mar 2006
