Homeowners must see assets appreciate without watching Govt get it’s arm in - Cree
Ulster Unionist Regional Development Spokesperson Leslie Cree has said that record rises in Northern Ireland’s house prices will have government beancounters rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of increased tax take.
Mr Cree said that government must rethink its proposals to base water charges on the value of the home – or leave itself open to the accusation that its intends to launch a major tax raid on responsible homeowners.
In a statement, the North Down MLA said: “The record rise in house prices will understandably please homeowners but it will also have government administrators rubbing their hands in glee.
“People in Northern Ireland work hard and save hard in order to own their own homes. They deserve to see that investment of finance and effort appreciate.
“But water charges based on capital values will see homeowners hit hard by government approved stealth taxes. So while the homeowner can see their assets get bigger – the government can also see its water charge get bigger.
“The nonsense of capital values bears no relation to consumption, nor does it encourage anyone to use water wisely. Put simply, the Government’s water charge proposals are an unfair tax on homeownership, penalising those who work and save to own their home.
“Government should not be allowed to give itself carte blanche to squeeze more out of hard-working families and asset-rich but cash poor senior citizens. In my opinion the government needs to rethink its water charge proposals.”