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

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Comments

  • mntb
    mntb Posts: 3 Newbie
    Thanks. Haven't received the letter, only notification from council. No detrimental changes to the neighbourhood. Well that I'm aware of anyway!
  • Jellybeanio
    Jellybeanio Posts: 13 Forumite
    Following up on what I mistakenly started in the success thread.

    VOA agreed to review and their decision is, no change.

    Lincroft, could I ask you as ex VOA? What would you have done if a taxpayer informed you that identical properties to theirs are a band below them and you decided that the comparable properties had been incorrectly reduced. Disregarding the case of the taxpayer who made you aware of this. What, if any action would you have taken against the incorrectly banded properties?
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Jellybeanio wrote: »
    Following up on what I mistakenly started in the success thread.

    VOA agreed to review and their decision is, no change.

    Lincroft, could I ask you as ex VOA? What would you have done if a taxpayer informed you that identical properties to theirs are a band below them and you decided that the comparable properties had been incorrectly reduced. Disregarding the case of the taxpayer who made you aware of this. What, if any action would you have taken against the incorrectly banded properties?

    Any wrongly banded property which is identified should have the banding corrected - the voa have a legal duty to maintain an accurate list.

    Craig
    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.
  • Jellybeanio
    Jellybeanio Posts: 13 Forumite
    Thank you Craig.
  • muppy99
    muppy99 Posts: 4 Newbie
    First Anniversary
    Did we need to get planning permission to convert the barn? Could we have avoided the council tax liability by converting it and obtaining a certificate of lawful development from the planning dept instead?
    The planning permission was actually for a "holiday let" but the in laws decided they'd like to live with us. Does this mean that we haven't actually used the planning consent as our in laws are just guests staying in our property? And, does the planning consent lapse if not used within three years?
    Thanks, in advance, for your advice.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 17,623 Forumite
    Photogenic Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    Jellybeanio wrote: »

    Lincroft, could I ask you as ex VOA? What would you have done if a taxpayer informed you that identical properties to theirs are a band below them and you decided that the comparable properties had been incorrectly reduced. Disregarding the case of the taxpayer who made you aware of this. What, if any action would you have taken against the incorrectly banded properties?

    I would increase them unless the reduction was a Valuation Tribunal decision.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 17,623 Forumite
    Photogenic Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    muppy99 wrote: »
    Could we have avoided the council tax liability by converting it and obtaining a certificate of lawful development from the planning dept instead?

    No. If it is someone's home it is classed as a dwelling and is subject to CT. If it is in the curtilage of another dwelling and is self contained unless it is let out on short term lets, it is again a dwelling and subject to CT.

    Not self contained and in the same curtilage as another dwelling then the value is reflected in the band of that dwelling. Holiday let could be subject to business rates
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • Bingleygirl
    Bingleygirl Posts: 1 Newbie
    I followed Martin's advice and contacted VOA with the reasons why I think my house is in the wrong council tax band (too high). They responded that my house falls within the value range of the band below my current band, but then state that my current band is correct !?! I'm confused, does this make sense to anyone?
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 17,623 Forumite
    Photogenic Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    Bingleygirl wrote: »
    I followed Martin's advice and contacted VOA with the reasons why I think my house is in the wrong council tax band (too high). They responded that my house falls within the value range of the band below my current band, but then state that my current band is correct !?! I'm confused, does this make sense to anyone?

    Not really. Ask them why the band is correct if your home's value is in fact in a lower band.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • princess23
    princess23 Posts: 103 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker Name Dropper First Post
    I wonder if anybody could help me with this. Like many of you I have taken Martins advice to contact the VOA to challenge our Council Tax band. I was told that basically if i could find two properties (one of which he told me was on the same estate as us) and the other within a two mile radius with the same square footage they would be able to do something about changing it. He wouldn't tell me anymore information saying it would open a can of worms!! Therefore my question is , is there anyway to find out a list of properties within a twho mile radius to us sowing the square footage of the properties this is like looking for a needle in a hay stack.
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