From: "Steve" 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Why is there a "Council Tax" related to house valuation in the UK
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 20:47:17 +0900

I'm a former resident of the UK, and would like to understand a bit more 
about this thing called the Coucil Tax.
From what I understand is, that if you buy a house, then the local 
government will tax you based on last valuation of that property.
Is that right ? If as a non-resident, I purchase a property, do I still have 
to pay that tax ... or if I let the property, does the tennant  ?

Anyways, seems a bit of a strange tax - properties aren't revenue generating 
so to tax based on value of property is forcing the occupier to either sell 
or generate revenue from the property... kinda screwed up and makes me 
wonder how people manage back in the UK.