Labour plans would empower 'mansion tax police' to conduct internal inspections of homes to determine if their value exceeds £2 million, according to reports. Owners who refuse entry to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) inspectors could face a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to £200.
The Conservative Party has criticized the move, labeling it a "sinister assault on civil liberties." The proposed policy is expected to disproportionately affect homeowners in London and the South East of England.
At last year's budget, then-chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a plan to introduce a "mansion tax" on properties valued above £2 million. This levy would range from £2,500 to £7,500 annually for owners of high-value homes.
VOA agents will utilize third-party data and publicly available information for property valuations. However, they will also have the authority to perform "internal inspections" to gather further details. These inspections would assess factors such as the size and architectural style of a house, along with the number of floors, rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Ministers have reportedly been advised that regular inspections will be necessary to maintain accurate valuation data.
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride commented on the plans, stating, "We may have changed prime minister, but it's the same old story with Labour – how can we raise taxes to pay for more benefits?" He added, "Andy Burnham and (Housing Secretary) Angela Rayner are sending their council tax police to people's homes so they can drag them into paying their new family homes tax." Stride characterized the proposal as "a tax on aspiration, on working hard and investing well, and Labour will stop at nothing to make as many people as possible liable for it."
Dan Tomlinson, a junior Treasury minister, confirmed that homeowners might be contacted by the Valuation Office, which is part of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), to arrange visits. Earlier this year, Jonathan Russell, chief executive of the VOA, informed Members of Parliament that houses previously valued above £1.5 million would be reassessed to ascertain if they now surpassed the £2 million threshold.
A government spokesperson stated that any visits would be conducted by prior agreement with the property owner.