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VOA Sets 2026 Valuation Rules for Labour’s High-Value Council Tax Surcharge

Officials confirm a standalone 2026 valuation will place fewer than 1% of properties into new high-value bands.

Overview

  • The surcharge begins in April 2028 for homes valued above £2 million, with four bands charging from £2,500 up to £7,500 for £5 million-plus properties.
  • The Valuation Office Agency will run a targeted 2026 valuation, separate from existing 1991 council tax bands, with revaluations every five years.
  • Charges will rise with CPI from 2029–30, and central government will fully fund councils’ administrative costs.
  • Social housing is excluded from the policy, with media analysis reporting more than 110 such homes worth over £2 million across England.
  • Critics including Conservatives, the Taxpayers’ Alliance and the LGA question fairness and delivery, and experts quoted by The Times warn desktop valuations could overvalue properties and prompt appeals.