News

**MSE Archna** · 06-10-2006, 8:00 PM

This thread is here to discuss the content of the article on Council Tax Cashback: reduce your band and save £1000s.

However if you have already followed the system, please use report them in the Council tax rebanding successes discussion.

Note from Martin: Thank you to all the contributers to the initial thread, which provided the genisis for the article. Much appreciated.

halloweenqueen · 07-10-2006, 10:39 AM

Oh well as I was last in with a comment on the thread - I'll start discussing on this one! I'm hoping I will get at least £600 back , not sure what the overpayments would have been over all the years, wonder whether they will break it down for me?
An alternative savings account I suppose!

Maisie · 07-10-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halloweenqueen

Oh well as I was last in with a comment on the thread - I'll start discussing on this one! I'm hoping I will get at least £600 back , not sure what the overpayments would have been over all the years, wonder whether they will break it down for me?
An alternative savings account I suppose!

halloweenqueen. So pleased you will get a refund. Pass the word on to others to check council tax banding. voa.gov.uk.

Many other MSE's are in line for refunds too.

Happy to have helped.

Maisie OP

halloweenqueen · 07-10-2006, 6:07 PM

Thanks maisie - I'm telling everyone I know to check theirs - will let you know how much i get back!

tiff · 07-10-2006, 6:57 PM

Most people in our street are in the same band as us but there are quite a few in band D, best not to complain then lol

pigpen · 08-10-2006, 12:30 AM

How does the discount work if you are a carer?

I am the registered carer for my son.. he receives DLA and I receive carers allowance. He is almost 11.

I read you can claim a discount in some circumstances if you are a carer.. or is this only for those such as foster carers not carers of DLA recipients? It isn't very clear.

I haven't heard anything about this before, not that that would surprise me.

Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks in advance!

**MSE Natasha** · 08-10-2006, 12:58 AM

Hi pigpen - I'm assuming that your son lives with you? I believe in order to get the discount you must be providing care at a residence that is not your own, i.e. caring for an elderly parent at their home, and by doing so you possibily don't spend the majority of your time residing in your own house.

Natasha

pigpen · 08-10-2006, 10:24 AM

Thanks Natasha.. Yes he lives with me.. though sometimes (most of the time) I feel he lives in space!!

Never mind.. I will find somewhere I can save some £££'s lol

Paul Varjak · 09-10-2006, 12:21 PM

Around 880,000 householders can get a one-off rebate of up to £100 on their Council tax if they have Cavity Wall Insulation installed (depending on where they live):

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2006/060313a.htm

The cavity wall insulation is installed by British Gas at a reduced price of £175, so the net cost is as little as £75 - which could be recovered in less one year - with the energy saved.

However, many people on low incomes would do better getting the cavity wall insulation installed for free via ther many schemes available. Contact your local Council and electricity/gas company(s) for more info.

British Gas will even install cavity wall insulation for free if you are on a 'qualifying benefit' - even if you are not one of their customers! But I am not sure if you would qualify for the Council Tax rebate as well.

**MSE Martin** · 09-10-2006, 2:41 PM

thanks paul - i'll take a look and add to the article if appropriate

CIS · 09-10-2006, 7:32 PM

There are three different cases that cover carers

Exemptions
If you leave your property to provide care at another property, you can apply for exemption on your own property

Disabled Band Relief
If your property has doors etc adapted for wheelchair use, has a room set aside specifically for the disabled persons use or you have an extra bathroom/kitchen for their use, then you may get Disabled Band Relief

Carers Disregard
A peron can be disregraded if they are caring for a person in the carers own home, the person cared for is not a spouse (or if under 18, the disabled person is not the carers child) and the person is in receipt of DLA/AA (high care), CAA. The care must also be for 35+ hrs per week.

praven · 11-10-2006, 10:44 AM

From my local council's web site it says the bandings are based on property values in 1991. How can I check my property value in 1991?
Paul

gdcox · 11-10-2006, 12:54 PM

Anyone thikong of expanding their house and worying about going up a rate band should note that that does not happen until you sell the house.

browolf · 11-10-2006, 4:50 PM

i got mine reduced when i bought my flat (about 6 years ago which was rated at band 'B' at the time) using the argument if house prices generally go up, how can my flat be band B if its only worth £34k now!

my council tax with single person reduction in band A is about 66 / month

i found the valuation bands here

kiwi · 11-10-2006, 11:04 PM

after much tooing + froing including having the valuation officer come round to assess, finally have notiifcation of reduced banding.

please can someone advise whether it goes back to 1993 [ have been in situ for all council tax bills so would expect it ALL ] as they have assessed refunds on only 1998- date [ and taken all this years full outstanding against the refund !!! ]
presumably there is not statue of limitations etc ?

finally - is statutory interest payable on these monies.
if it was commercial premises and the RV was downgraded, you do get stat interest back as well.
any legal bits to quote in the next round of correspondence

much appreciated and always good fun hassling for the dosh....

Pere Ubu · 12-10-2006, 12:03 AM

Does a neighbour mean in an area or a road? How far does it cover?

We live on a private road which is accessed through an unadopted road. Did write to the council and ask for a reduction becuase of this but they have only acknowledged my letter which I wrote some 6 months ago. Does it normally take this long? Also I am single and have asked for a reduction but they have said I need to provide them with my husband's address details first (we are separated). Am I obliged to provide this info to get a reduction?

madshopper · 12-10-2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by praven

From my local council's web site it says the bandings are based on property values in 1991. How can I check my property value in 1991?
Paul

Paul you can go to www.nationwide.co.uk/hpi/ where you can input your figs and it will tell you the estimated value in 1991. We did a successful appeal using this as supporting info and archive info from the local property pages in April 1991

Dalavich · 12-10-2006, 6:38 PM

Unfortunately we're one of those mugs you hear about.

Both in full time jobs (not highly paid!), we don't have kids (or rather not able to).

So as a result, elegible for diddly squat.

Not even a bit of help replacing our coal fire with a modern boiler and radiators.

dave747 · 12-10-2006, 7:05 PM

The price your house was worth in 1991 dictates how much council tax you pay. If your house was built after April 1991 then an assumption is made to what would have been its value in 1991. I would advise anyone who thinks they were in the wrong band to ask the Listings Officer at your Valuation Office for the information he is using to value your property and in addition to trawl through local newspapers from Jan 1991 to April 1991, usually on record at Public Libraries. Look at the estate agents pages to see if any houses in your locality were up for sale and what they were valued at, and if necessary take a copy to the Listings Officer. We had our house band reduced and the Listings Officer has a duty to ensure that the valuation list is correct so he had to alter my neighbours as well.

thegreybeard · 12-10-2006, 7:46 PM

Just be careful; if the Valuation Officer finds or believes that your band is too low, he can put it up!

So, do your homework, first.