Council Tax rebranding for Housing Association houses

RAYNERD

Dear Martin

I saw this on GM TV and had a look through this on your website. I am currently living with my parents and my Mum is struggling with her bills during these times with everything going up.

I was wondering if the Council Banding check would apply to people in Housing Association properties? Where we live most properties are owned but there are still 2 Housing Associations, one of which we are in and the other next door to us.

Is it still worth doing the check? If so would we need to do anything different?

I done a quick valuation check on another property near us that was valued under £30k in 1991 which would make it band A from you guide, we are on band B.

Hopefully there is something we can do to ease the financial burden.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks

Donna

jerseyboys

I am in the same position I think I am in 1 band too high but I cannot find out the price of my house I live on a large estate and even the housing association says it does not know the price of my house in 1991 which seems a bit strange but as our houses can only be rented and not sold I don't know what to do. So hopefully someone may read our posts and be able to help us if I have any luck I will post.

RAYNERD

I'm glad were not the only ones, fingers crossed that someone knows ay. How convient that they don't know the value of the property! Don't believe that for a second :rolleyes:

SHAZZYBE_2

Hi
I was wondering if the same applies to council tenants. I have been at my address for 14 years and my neighbours on one side are council tenants too. These are the only people that house is the same as mine. Does it work in the same way as home owners. Thanks

lincroft1710

Basis for council tax bands is same for all dwellings whether owned or rented. There is no reason why HA should know values of their houses in 1991 unless valuations were done for sale to tenants, HA has no connection with council tax process.

Raynerd - if you used house price calculator, these are not that accurate. Was the house you checked in Band A or B, and I presume it is similar to yours.

You can ask for a council tax band review, but you need to give good reasons why you think band is wrong, e.g. finding a similar house nearby in a lower band.

RAYNERD

Brilliant thanks for the advice, I'll doing some digging :-)

RAYNERD

I've had a look and most of the street are on band B, the one next door to me is on band A and that's the only one. The house has the same amount of bedrooms, rooms etc. Not sure really what to do as a bit worried if I ask them to review that it may go the other way and they may put his band up to B?

Can that happen?

lincroft1710

Yes if Band A too low it can be increased. However you can check its history on VOA website, it may have been reduced.

jerseyboys

I have just been to pay my council tax and I have been told that the borough I live in which is Bromley have said they will reband all the properties within the next 2 years which would take a lot of hassle out of us having to do it whether they will keep to thier word remains to be seen,but this may be the case in other boroughs.

lincroft1710

jerseyboys - councils do NOT reband properties, that is the job of Valuation Office Agency part of HMRC.

John_Pierpoint

The VOA is probably quite quiet at the moment, not a lot of development and compulsory purchase going on.
So why not set them to work checking council tax banding, before prices fall too much.
There are probably plenty of extensions, flash kitchens and multiple bathrooms out there that could trigger a higher council tax band. Like the farmers' fields, extensions can be checked by aerial/satellite filming - it is accurate to the width of your computer screen I understand.
"No where to run to no where to hide"