Councillor dismisses tax-rise fear

Fears that surveyors carrying out Oldham Council’s house-condition review are a back door way of revaluing homes for council tax rises have been quashed by a senior councillor.

Uppermill resident Jack Cain refused to allow an Edinburgh-based firm of surveyors into his Rush Hill Terrace home to carry out the survey this month.

Mr Cain said he had received a letter informing him his home was part of a large-scale survey of private properties.

Mr Cain objected and said that even after he rang to cancel the visit, a surveyor called at his home and was turned away by his wife.

He said: “How long have Oldham Council been interested in private properties other than for council tax purposes? And why use surveyors from Edinburgh who will no doubt be claiming expenses for hotel accommodation and travelling etc?”

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for community services and housing, explained that legally all councils have to complete a private-sector stock -condition survey once every five years to support bids for Government funds.

Letters explaining it went to a random sample of 2,000 private properties of different ages, build types and conditions across the borough.

He added: “I can assure all citizens that none of this information is used to undertake any property revaluation and all information collected is in strict confidence.

“Any householder contacted has the right not to take part.”

The council advertised for consultants, he said, and although the successful company, Adamson’s, has its head office in Edinburgh, staff from its Greater Manchester office were surveying homes, on a fixed-price contract.