Margaret Thatcher’s prime ministership ended after introducing the Poll Tax for council financing. Every property was charged the same amount. A one-bedroom flat was taxed like a mansion. It provoked riots and she lost support in her party.
Panic-stricken, the Conservative government introduced Council Tax. Eight bands, loosely based on 19911 evaluations, remain to this day. These valuation bands are supposed to reflect house prices across the country.
The intention was that bands would be reviewed every five years. This would have captured changes in real time. Political cowardice prevented revaluations happening. Winners are happy and losers scream blue murder with obvious electoral consequences. London’s 73 MPs absolutely opposed re-establishing the link between property values and council tax. London’s house prices had rocketed and they didn’t want council tax to double as a consequence.
In Havering, Band D house prices in Rainham have increased eight times since 1991.2 The earliest statement of council tax bands are for 1993-4 when band D was set at £535.3 For 2023-4, Band D is £2,088 – four times more.
Havering’s council tax would double if it was a property tax.
Havering’s road to disaster began in 1991. A panic-stricken Conservative government tried to rescue themselves after Margaret Thatcher. They made disastrous decisions, which have lasted 32 years. Havering’s 2023-4 budget raised £149m from council tax.4 This should have been a minimum of £300 million. And more if upward revaluations are included.
Havering is a victim of national politics.
Notes
1 How domestic properties are assessed for Council Tax bands – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
2 House Prices in Guysfield Drive, Rainham, Havering, London, RM13 (rightmove.co.uk)
3 Previous years’ bands | Council Tax bands and bills | The London Borough Of Havering
Politics in Havering 
The poll tax was per person, not based upon property.
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You are quite right.
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