Two questions about council tax

jamied

Hi everyone, I have a couple of questions about recent experiences with council tax.

First question...

I recently started renting a 4 year old city centre flat. It is band D. As well all know these types of property have nose dived in value, ours included. Where does this leave our council tax band?

I checked the price of a flat exactly the same as ours about 2 months ago and it was advertised at £155k. I readjusted this to 1991 prices and it came out at about £48k which is band B.

I have applied to have the council tax lowered but this was rejected and I was shown that everyone in the same block is also paying band D.

I suspect the council realise that if they lower ours then they have to lower everyone elses (theres at least 500 flats) here meaning much lower income for them.

What can I do?

Second question...

I finished university about 1 and a half years ago.Our tenancy ran out in the August although we finished studying in around July.

Last week we all received letters to say we owe 1 months council tax for the last month we were there as we were not students.

How can they do this well over a year later? What are my rights here?


We tried claiming we all moved out in July and went back to our parents but this didn't work.

Anyone else reckon the council in question had a few pennies in Iceland are now trying to get some funds?!

Thanks in advance for your replies.

lincroft1710

1) Council Tax is based on property values as at 1 April 1991.

2) House price indices are too generalised to be of any practical use in determining 1991 values.

3) In England and Wales CT banding is done by the Valuation Office Agency (part of HMRC) not the council.

4) Council are within their rights to claim for the period you were not a student. The fact the demand is late is one of those things. Making a false claim that you were no longer taxpayer could be construed as fraud.

Airwolf1

lincroft sums this up pretty well. All your landlord needed to do was show the council the tenancy agreement showing it ran out in August.

jamied

Thanks for your replies guys.

So for the problem with my student accommodation, would you say we should just grin and bear it and pay up?

Airwolf1

Yes, you will have to pay.