The 'billionaire's row' homes that could get cost of living help from Rishi Sunak: Properties on plush London street where Justin Bieber and the Sultan of Brunei lived are eligible for council tax rebate designed to help Britain's poorest
It is the posh 'billionaire's row' street in a leafy north London suburb where spacious, well-appointed mansions sell for seven-figure sums.
Former inhabitants and owners of homes in The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead include the super-rich Sultan of Brunei and the Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber.Behind the tall gates and high hedges are homes with swimming pools, private cinemas and underground parking.
But it is here that some of the billions set aside by Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday to provide relief to the country's poorest could be heading.
Falcon House is a 17,000 square-foot, four-storey property believed to be worth more than £19million that sits in Barnet's top council tax band H.
It was lavishly redeveloped within the last decade and has its own gym, pool, spa, home cinema room and nail salon.
The firm behind the revamp described it as a 'masterpiece' and 'the ultimate in luxury living'.
But on the same site are three small separate flats which are in the authority's council tax band B, records show.
In the Commons yesterday Mr Sunak unveiled a £150 tax rebate for bands A to D to help alleviate the burden of soaring gas prices, inflation and a National Insurance rise in April.
It means the residents of these small flats in the grounds of the mansion are eligible for the rate relief.
James Murray, Labour's shadow financial secretary to the Treasury, said: 'This is ludicrous and shows what a shambles the Chancellor's buy, now pay later scheme is.
'They don't have an answer to the cost of living crisis because they are the cost of living crisis.'
Behind the tall gates are homes with swimming pools, private cinemas and even their own spas.
Falcon House is a 17,000 square-foot, four-storey property believed to be worth more than £19million and sits in Barnet's top council tax band H.
But on the same site are three small separate flats which are in the authority's council tax band B, records show
Former owners of homes in The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead include the super-rich Sultan of Brunei (top, with Boris Johnson last year) and the Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber (above)The payment is in addition to an upfront £200 discount on gas bills in October - which is provided through a non-optional loan form the government to energy firms which will be recouped through future bills.
In return for the discount, Britons will face a hike to their bills by £40 per year over the next five years from 2023 to recoup its cash. There is no option to opt out.
Bishops Avenue's 66 homes have long caught the eye of wealthy foreign investors. In 2014, an estimated £350 million worth of mansions could be found on the prestigious street
Notable residents of Bishops Avenue have included Paul McCartney's ex-wife Heather Mills and holiday camp pioneer Sir Billy Butlin.
Justin Bieber rented a home there in 2016 for £108,000 a month, while he was touring the UK.There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the residents.
And it is not the only area to potentially benefit from the rebate in areas where the owners may perhaps not require help.
Records show that 20 flats on the Islington street where Boris Johnson used to live are also eligible for the grant.
The average price for a home on Colebrooke Row, where Mr Johnson lived with his now ex-wife Marina Wheeler and their four children, is £1.4million.
But because council tax bands have not been revised since they were introduced in 1991 the properties are still eligible for relief.
Mr Johnson sold his five-storey property for £3.75million in 2019, after moving in with Carrie before they entered Downing Street.
Records show that 20 flats on the street where Boris Johnson used to live are also eligible for the grant.
Mr Johnson sold his five-storey property for £3.75million in 2019, after moving in with Carrie before they entered Downing Street.
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