Advisers warn that the planned 5% rise could hit stretched buyers and test confidence of Reform UK's promise to ease household costs
Kent’s proposed 5% council tax rise is unlikely to derail deals, but brokers say it’s another cost testing household budgets already stretched by higher mortgage rates and living expenses.
Reform UK’s flagship council in Kent, one of England’s largest local authorities, is expected to approve the maximum increase as it struggles to balance a £2.5 billion budget dominated by social care costs. Despite pre-election pledges to cut spending, councillors now admit services are already “down to the bare bones,” with each 1% rise in council tax bringing in about £10 million to help close a £50 million shortfall.
Council leader Linden Kemkaran has said no final decision will be made until November, but senior figures within the administration acknowledge the increase is almost inevitable.
Brokers split on the fallout
For some advisers, the rise is more irritation than crisis. Alan Greenin, of Marble Financial Planning, who lives in Kent, said he was “not thrilled about another rise in council tax,” particularly given the condition of local infrastructure, but argued that “a 5% increase isn’t likely to make or break affordability for most homeowners.”
He described it as “more of an irritation than a deal-stopper,” adding that while the market remains active, buyers are now more aware of where their monthly outgoings go, and more hesitant to upsize into higher tax bands.
Not everyone shares that optimism. Ben Groves of Yomo Finance, also based in Kent, said a 5% rise “could have a noticeable impact on household affordability, especially for first-time buyers and those already stretched by higher mortgage rates and living costs.”
He warned that every additional outgoing “could be the difference between being able to borrow enough to buy or needing to reconsider their budget,” and predicted that sentiment could turn “a little more cautious” among buyers at the lower end of the affordability scale.
Beyond the Numbers
The contrasting broker views capture how finely balanced household budgets have become. Even modest increases in fixed costs now influence how clients approach affordability. Council tax, once a background figure, is increasingly discussed alongside utilities, insurance, and maintenance when brokers help borrowers stress-test their finances.
For advisers, it seems clients are treating affordability more holistically than ever. Tax rises may not stop transactions, but they do shape sentiment, especially for borrowers already operating close to their financial limits.
Political promises, practical reality
For Reform UK, Kent was meant to showcase leaner, more efficient local government. Instead, it has exposed the limits of cost-cutting in the face of rising demand for care and education services. The council has paused energy-efficiency schemes and scrapped electric vehicle plans to reduce debt, but experts say the underlying pressures remain.
While the politics may dominate headlines, brokers are left to navigate the real-world effects. As Greenin noted, the rise “won’t break affordability for most homeowners,” but Groves’s reminder that “every additional outgoing matters” reflects the caution now shaping client decisions. In a market still defined by tight budgets and higher rates, even a routine tax rise can shift the conversation about what buyers can truly afford.
