UK households face being slapped with £217 council tax hike under Labour

District Council Network (DCN) is urging the new Labour Party government to make changes so it can meet its ambitious housing targets in the UK this year.

There are calls for UK households to face DOUBLE council tax. District Council Network (DCN) is urging the new Labour Party government to make changes so it can meet its ambitious housing targets in the UK this year.

The DCN is pushing for extra funding and for council tax to be increased by 10 per cent to ensure targets are met within the next five-year period. Average council tax bills across England rose to more than £2,000 a year for the first time in April 2023 and continued to rise in April 2024. The average charge for a Band D property is now £2,171 for the 2024-25 tax year – an increase of £106 or 5.1% rise.

A 10 per cent hike would be £217. According to Richard Wright, the DCN’s planning and growth spokesman, a lack of funding may result in unsafe and sub-par housing. He explained: "Councils are essential partners for the Government to achieve its national mission of driving growth and new homes – but we need to enhance and retain local expertise to do this successfully.

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"Planning departments have been among the most impacted in recent years as shrinking budgets have forced councils to reduce spending – but if the Government’s house-building revolution is to succeed, we need a step change in the recruitment and retention of planners.

"Properly resourced planners can help ensure the Government’s house-building plans will bring about hundreds of sustainable and well-sited new communities that provide housing which will stand the test of time. With degraded planning expertise, we risk building housing in isolated locations which are beset by social problems, and in which no one wants to live."

Cllr Hannah Dalton, Housing Spokesperson for the District Councils’ Network, stressed the need for a shift from crisis management to prevention, stating: "High use of temporary accommodation is the result of national policy failure. Councils are being forced to deal with the consequences of homelessness rather than prevent it.

"We need extra powers to ensure sufficient affordable, good quality, secure homes are built in the first place." Matt Downie, Chief Executive at Crisis, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the long-term damage caused by homelessness, particularly to children, and the urgent need for government action, said: "Our housing and homelessness system is broken, and councils are paying a hefty price for years of inaction.

"It's critical that we establish a Unit for Ending Homelessness, ensuring that everyone has a safe place to call home."