Council Tax Cost Cutting: reduce your band and grab any discounts Discussion Area

Lu_T · 21 August 2011 at 1:47PM

Lu_T wrote: »

Hoping someone can help with this please. I'm looking at our council tax banding again because I've just received a cold call from a company telling me we're in the wrong band. I'm doing it myself, not paying for their services, but I wanted to seek some advice.

Regardless of how our house compares to similar ones in the neighbourhood, we have had a double-storey extension taking it from 3 beds, 1 bath, to 4 beds, 2 baths.

So the question: do I need to look for a similar house in the area (a 4 bed, 2 bath) to compare that band and valuation in 1991? I can't compare it with the identical ones on the street as they haven't had the same extension.

I'm wary that asking for a re-valuation means we could go up a band and I'd rather pay what we're paying now than more!

Thanks for the answers so far. Does anyone know if we could end up paying more if the house is re-banded? Or will that only apply to any new owners if/when we sell?

TIA

lincroft1710 · 21 August 2011 at 3:51PM

If an investigation shows that the original band was in fact too low, then you would be faced with a higher CT bill.

Sponge · 24 August 2011 at 1:57PM

I finally got around to sending an email to my local office to ask for my band to be reassessed. I'm currently band B and believe I should be A, in common with several other properties in my street. So fingers crossed.

I checked my Council's website and it states this:

Valuation matters

The grounds for appeal about banding are restricted to the following cases:-

where you believe that the banding should be changed because there has been a material increase or material reduction (this is explained below) in the dwelling's value;

where you start or stop using part of your dwelling to carry out business, or the balance between domestic and business use changes;

where the Listing Officer has altered a list without a proposal having been made by a taxpayer;

where you become the taxpayer in respect of a dwelling for the first time. (Your appeal must be made within 6 months. If the same appeal has already been considered and determined by a Valuation Tribunal, it cannot be made again).

A material increase in the value may result from building, engineering, or other work carried out on the dwelling. In these cases revaluation does not take place until a sale, so the person appealing would usually be the new owner or resident.

A material reduction in value may result from the demolition of any part of the dwelling or from any change in the physical state of the local area. It could result from an adaptation to make the dwelling suitable for use by someone with a physical disability.

I'm fearful they'll reject my claim straight away as my argument is based simply on '...the Local Listings Office has a legal duty to ensure all properties bands are correct, and that means, if pushed it should investigate your representations...'

Sponge · 2 September 2011 at 10:41AM

On Wednesday I got a letter from the VOA in response to my email. They sent me an information leaflet and a form to fill in. It asks for information on the property, e.g. type and build date, and further evidence on why I think it should be reassessed (that box is very small). This was duely completed and returned the same day. Fingers crossed.

Marie_Williams · 2 September 2011 at 12:06PM

After an appeal I was still refused a reduction. I was told it was because of extensions. I have lived in this house since 1972. One small extension was done prior to 1993 and added to in 2003. I have requested which parts of the extension were used in their assessment. I e mailed this to the officer, I havn't even had an acknowledgement to the message? That was 3 weeks ago. Is there any other action I can take.

lincroft1710 · 2 September 2011 at 3:30PM

Marie_Williams wrote: »

After an appeal I was still refused a reduction. I was told it was because of extensions. I have lived in this house since 1972. One small extension was done prior to 1993 and added to in 2003. I have requested which parts of the extension were used in their assessment. I e mailed this to the officer, I havn't even had an acknowledgement to the message? That was 3 weeks ago. Is there any other action I can take.

Ring them, e-mails can fail to reach their destination, but why they don't I just don't know. Also if recipient is away on holiday, he/she may have failed to set up "forwarding address".

decsdad · 4 September 2011 at 8:09PM

Hi all, looking for some help, have a hearing next week to try and get my band reduced. We are a G, a neighbour is an F.
Our house, lounge,dining,kitchen,wc,garage,4beds(3 ensuite), family bathroom and another lounge. Neighbour has lounge, family room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, garage, wc, 5 beds(2 ensuite) and family bathroom. So pretty similar, our house is larger in terms of square metres, but the neighbour has another apartment. Also we have recent sales evidence ours sold for £200k in nov 2010, and the neighbours £210 in oct 2010. So this shows their house has a higher value than ours now, so surely also in 1991. (Scotland)
I hope this makes sense and would appreciate any help

Thanks

lincroft1710 · 5 September 2011 at 5:16PM

decsdad wrote: »

Neighbour has lounge, family room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, garage, wc, 5 beds(2 ensuite) and family bathroom. So pretty similar, our house is larger in terms of square metres, but the neighbour has another apartment.

If the "another apartment" is a self contained flat which has its own CT band, then this may be why that house is only a Band F.

decsdad · 5 September 2011 at 5:30PM

No its just the extra bedroom, referred to as an apartment.

ie us--2 lounge, 1 dining, 4 bed,= 7 apartments

neighbour---2 lounge, 1 dining, 5 bedrooms=8 apartments

hope thats clearer, thanks

lincroft1710 · 5 September 2011 at 7:26PM

As you state your house is larger in area, I think this will be the reason the Assessor will give for the higher band.

Council Tax Cost Cutting: reduce your band and grab any discounts Discussion Area

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