The Liberal Democrats are to propose a tax bombshell for homeowners who fail to make green improvements to their properties.
Critics today branded the idea “lunacy” and claimed that it would force cash-strapped households to spend thousands of pounds.
The Lib-Dem plans are in a policy paper, Green Growth and Green Jobs: Transition to a Zero Carbon Britain, which will be proposed at the party’s annual conference in Glasgow this month.
It first suggests letting home-buyers off stamp duty if they improve the property’s energy efficiency. But the document goes on: “To encourage non-movers to invest in energy efficiency, we would encourage local authorities to reduce tax rates for those who could demonstrate significant improvements in a home’s [energy efficiency] ratings.
We would also permit local authorities to introduce tax surcharges on those householders who failed to take up improvements.”
Required measures might include new wall or loft insulation, double glazing or replacement boilers.
Conservative MP Jake Berry said: “This ill-thought-out idea is the latest example of Liberal Democrat lunacy.
“Householders should be able to make green changes to their property as and when they see fit and not face being hit with a council surcharge for not doing so.”
A Lib-Dem spokeswoman confirmed that the party would allow councils to introduce surcharges on householders who did not take up improvements.
She added: “People who make their homes more energy efficient will save money in the long term.”
