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

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Comments

  • jamesiebabie
    jamesiebabie Posts: 141 Forumite
    You can always ask for your details that the VOA hold via the Freedom of Information Act. You will then find out if they have any info at all. You can do this by asking the Group Customer Service Manager. It is always worth a try. If the info they hold does not stack up in your favour it is always worth it.
    Any opinions voiced are entirely my own and in no way represent those of anyone but me.

    Check your Council Tax Band on the VOA Website as you could save 1000's - http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/cti_home.htm
  • Sante
    Sante Posts: 12 Forumite
    After reading this site, thought I would check the banding out on my property which I have just rented out (1st April 2006).. Have found out the council have just changed the banding to a lower one....!! Does anyone know if I would be entitled to get a rebate after years of paying a higher rate.

    Doesn't seem fair that after all these years they suddenly decide to change the band...

    Would appreciate any help on this one, as the council office said I don't have any claim as I am not living there anymore...
  • jamesiebabie
    jamesiebabie Posts: 141 Forumite
    Sante wrote:
    After reading this site, thought I would check the banding out on my property which I have just rented out (1st April 2006).. Have found out the council have just changed the banding to a lower one....!! Does anyone know if I would be entitled to get a rebate after years of paying a higher rate.

    Doesn't seem fair that after all these years they suddenly decide to change the band...

    Would appreciate any help on this one, as the council office said I don't have any claim as I am not living there anymore...

    If I was you I would get back in touch and say that you are still an interested party and have always been interested. Do you know why it was reduced? If it was based on a CT appeal then you should have been informed. The property has not been sold, just rented out. It is always worth a try. Get the council to send you a copy of the law that states that you are not entitled to the rebate, otherwise, you could always approach the Valuation Office and make a claim against them as they had a duty to maintian an accurate list in the begining. Do you know if the other properties near to this property were in a lower band? If they were then the VOA should have done consequential reductions. That is their duty! If they had not performed the consequentials in a reasonable time, then you could make a claim. You may have to go to the Group Customer Service Manager to start the claim.

    I hope that helps.
    Any opinions voiced are entirely my own and in no way represent those of anyone but me.

    Check your Council Tax Band on the VOA Website as you could save 1000's - http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/cti_home.htm
  • Sante
    Sante Posts: 12 Forumite
    Thanks J....I think the woman on the phone said the other properties were in a lower band already, but cant be sure... Will definately follow your advice and see what I can come up with. No harm in trying. Thanks once again, will keep you posted..
  • Thesaurus_2
    Thesaurus_2 Posts: 4 Newbie
    Our local council have told us that we are only allowed 6months. Although we are renovating a property and currently live eslewhere within the borough paying tax on our main abode.

    We have also been told that this was applied for once the previous owner deceased and the relatives applied for the 6 month holiday. Therefore we receive even less time to not pay full council tax.

    I have telephoned and written to the local council and received no reply. Does any one know if the 12mth rule is a blanket rule for the whole country or can local councils set their own rules in this area?
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Ian guessing that your talking about exemptions rather re-banding.

    What may have happened is that once probate was granted on the property the relatives wil have applied for a class C exemption (empty and unfurnished) and unfortunately as the exemption is on the property and not the owners then until there has been a minimum of 6 weeks inhabitation of the property without exemption, you can only ever have whats left of the balance of 6 month class c exemption, if there isnt any balance you go back to standard empty property rate.

    Have you applied for a class A exemption ?,only applicable if the proprty is unliveable due to renovation work, but it isnt affected by the fact its been preceeded by a class c.

    Your best bet is to find out exactly what exemptions that the previous tenants had, after probate a 6 month exemption can be given, which IIRC when it expires can go to the class C rate for 6months, so its possible that they where still within the class F exemption, allowing you to get the class C.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Sante
    Sante Posts: 12 Forumite
    Does band A apply to caravans and empty properties?
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Class A exemptions can be applied to any property that uninhabitable due to renovation, standard policy is that we would send out an inspector to check - I doubt they would allow it for a caravan as its the pitch thats taxable, not the caravan - the pitch would have to be uninahbitable IYSWIM.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Sante
    Sante Posts: 12 Forumite
    Thanks for the clarification on that...wont try and go for the A banding on my property then...lol..
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Thanks for the clarification on that...wont try and go for the A banding on my property then...lol..

    I think theres some confusion crept in here:

    The rate of council tax payable on a property depends on the 'Band' ranging from A to H, this is totally independent from Class A/B/c etc exemptions.

    If you think your property is an A band rather than a B band , go for it, the exmeptions wouldn't effect what band your in.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
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