More than 23,000 households in Dundee and Angus will be hammered by council tax increases of up to £545 this year.
A new study reveals which parts of the city will bear the brunt of the SNP’s council tax reforms, which impose a greater burden on those living in more expensive homes.
The area that will be hardest hit is Dundee’s The Ferry, where 4,201 properties will be affected by the hikes for Band E-H homes.
In Angus, 3,095 households in Monifieth and Sidlaw will see their bills increased.
The Scottish Conservatives say that those ratepayers will be paying more for worse services because of cuts to the local government pot.
One pensioner in Monifieth, who did not want to be named, says she will pay £98 more while her richer neighbours do not see any increase.
Her home is in Band E, which is among those seeing a hike, while her neighbours are in Band D, which is exempt.
The 78-year-old, who has a “modest” pension and is not eligible for council tax relief, said: “They are the same houses but the only difference is that mine is detached.
“I can see why they might be in different bands, but then I can’t accept I have to pay more and no-one else here does.”
Liam Kerr, the Tory MSP who covers the North East, said: “The reality for thousands of people in Angus and Dundee City is that they will be paying more but getting less back in terms of investment in local services like roads, schools and elderly care.”
The SNP decided against scrapping council tax in favour of making those in Band E-H homes pay more.
Those hikes do not include a potential 3% council tax increase that local authorities will be allowed to impose in 2017/18 after nine years of a centrally-enforced freeze.
A Scottish Government spokesman said there will be no change for three out of four Scottish households from these reforms.
She added that some Band E-H households may be eligible for exemption through the council tax reduction scheme.
“Angus and Dundee councils will all see an increase in their spending power to support local authority services of up to £2 million in Angus and £14.9 million in Dundee.
“Our reforms to the council tax will protect household incomes, make local taxation fairer and ensure local authorities continue to be properly funded while becoming more accountable.”