Who are we ?
We are a group of individuals, home owners, crippled financially by our local Councils enforcement of CIL, when trying to improve our homes, our primary dwellings in which we live – we are all victims of CIL !
The Minister for Housing the Rt Hon Matthew Pennycook has said :
“CIL was never intended to be used in this way “
Yet, some Councils show no consideration for the consequences of their decisions on the families impacted, hit with threats of seizure of our homes , committal to prison if we do not pay life changing charges – that were never intended to be applied to homeowners !
If you are are homeowner and have been impacted by CIL please make contact by emailing
We are a group of victims, fighting together to correct this injustice for all homeowners!
What is CIL and what is the issue?
CIL stands for Community Infrastructure Levy. Introduced by the Conservative/Lib Dem Coalition Government in 2010. Introduced to make Developers pay to improve the infrastructure on which their developments rely. It was not intended to apply to homeowners. Home extensions and residential extensions are exempt providing……they apply for exemption.
The issue with the legislation is that it places all power with The Local Authority and makes the homeowner responsible for understanding immensely complex legislation. If the appropriate processes are not followed, if a single form is left out, filled in incorrectly or a part of the process is missed through a lack of understanding, the homeowner can find themselves in the position of automatically incurring financially crippling charges with no right of appeal!
Councils across the South of England and possibly Nationally are ruthless in pursuing innocent homeowners, threatening them that their homes will be seized, potential imprisonment, crippling them financially, claiming it’s the fault of legislation without asking the question is this morally right? It’s an unintended consequence of the CIL legislation
Local Councils have a choice to implement CIL or not. Many Councils have chosen not to implement CIL. Some Councils implement CIL, but take the decision to exclude all self-build home improvements. Others see homeowners as a legitimate target to generate additional income! Its a Post Code Lottery !
Local Councils were left with complete autonomy in setting CIL rates which vary greatly
- West Berks £114 per sq m
- Horsham £185 per sq m
- Waverley in Surrey £555 per sq m. staggering
Waverley have been ruthlessly pursuing homeowners for levies of up to an eye watering £235k!
An extension in Waverley could cost you more than building a new home in Basingstoke. Why is this allowed to happen? Permitted by the law?
Councils are supposed to be accountable to the elected representatives, the Councillors who ask for our votes, but when you find yourself in such a position will your Councillors fight for you and hold the Planning Officers to account?
Convicted Terrorists get the right to be heard in court and can seek an appeal. A homeowner, who in the opinion of the Council started work on a CIL liable home improvement before a commencement notice was submitted and approved:
– have no right for any independent appeal
– even where the new build can be proven it had not yet started!
Homeowners who have not started the work, who have not paid their CIL liability because they cannot afford to, who also cannot now afford to fund the building work, live in fear of their homes being seized.
We have cases where Planning Officers CIL departments show no compassion, who show no understanding of the consequence of their actions – there is no duty of care. What can you do if your Local Councillor chooses not to fight for you or is a member of the opposition and carries no influence?
Some families have had no option but sell their homes to pay charges they could not afford.