Here we go again: Government to tax the view from your house

[DimPrawn]

You people can be so cruel.

[OwlHoot]

Front page atricle at http://www.telegraph.co.uk

"Having a nice view or living next door to a golf course are going to cost householders more in council tax under Labour plans.

Taxpayers are set to be charged hundreds of pounds extra a year if they are in a conservation area, next to an open space, have a swimming pool or tennis court or enjoy full or partial views of the sea, hills, mountains, lakes or rivers.

Extra charges are also expected to be levied on homes with more bedrooms than average, conservatories, large patios or gardens, roof terraces or balconies. Homes in "gated communities" will also face higher bills."

I wonder if householders get discounts for unfavourable circumstances, such as living near a sewage works or mushroom farm, or being in dispute with a neighbour. If so I guess there'll be a sudden huge increase in neighbour disputes, which will be magically resolved once the valuations have been completed.

P.S. Why is it this government looks at _everything_ down the wrong end of the telescope?

[DimPrawn]

What about those with nicely decorated homes, decent furniture and well laid out gardens?

How can it be fair to those that live in pissed stained houses covered in vile puke?

These "rich" elite with nice interiors and tidy rooms MUST be forced to pay up more than their "fair" share.

Outrageous tax evasion that's what it is.

NL - Taxing those who dare to have anything nice.

[mcquiggd]

My council tax, for a two bedroom smallish rented flat in central Edinburgh, is £1750 a year (admittedly that includes water bills)... for my 3 storey, 4 bedroom house in central Norwich, it was £1100 a year...

Location, location, location....

(this is before any discounts for living in a second home etc.. I hope people realise that if you rent a place away from your main domicile for a contract you can claim a 50% reduction on your second pad, and might be able to get away with a 50% reduction on your main abode if you dont go back there for the duration ..cough..)

[AtW]

I find the title of this article is misleading - the Govt is NOT going to tax the view from the house, they will tax the house owner!

[PerlOfWisdom]

Will the blind get a discount?

[ratewhore]

Will the blind get a discount?

[boredsenseless]

I live in Swindon and the view from my house is a large block of flats on one side and the new hospital on the other.

I for one welcome this sensible and measured taxation measure.

However the new hospital does look quite nice - and you benefit from proximity of services

[PerlOfWisdom]

If you paint a mural of the sea and some green fields, will they tax you for the deemed view?

[datestamp]

I suppose they could take it further. They could surcharge you if you hadn't been burgled in the last 12 months. And if there hadn't been a serious road crash upto 50 yards from your front door, they could surcharge you again. And if a labour politician hadn't been invited into your house for the last 12 months they could bill you for "re-education". And they could have a tree tax. They could count the number of trees within 100 yards of your backdoor and divide it by the number of people in the property, then multiply it by some large number in pounds sterling.

It just takes a little imagination