Council tax rebanding do I stand a chance?

little_oak

Hi just a query.

My house (and estate) was built in 1989 and had a coucil tax band of D as do all my neighbours despite the fact that some are 3 beds and some are 4 and are all of different sizes and different size plots of land. I have lived here since it was built as it is ex council stock and was purchased under the right to buy scheme. This means that when I bought it some 6 years ago the council valuer placed a value on it. I have never made any improvements so still have orginal kitchen and bathrooms, windows and layout etc. Other have instaled double glazing and exstensions or new kitchens and bathooms.

When i looked back tracked the values to the Jan 1999 figures using the value at the time of purchase as given by the LA valuers and current values I find I should be in band c.

What sort of chance to get re-calculted to band c do I realisitically have given everyone else is in D. Are we all wrong and should be ask as a group rather than individuals. Also how far back can i go as I recieve a 25% discount as only adult in the household?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

lincroft1710

Council Tax is based on open market value of house as at 1 Apr 1991 (Eng and Scot)or 1 Apr 2003 (Wales). The correct method of valuation is to look at sales of similar houses in the area at that time. RTB values are on a different basis to the criteria for values for CT purposes and also normal house sales. If used on house price calculator (which are inaccurate in any case) they will give incorrect figures.

Because there are only a few bands it is not unusual for different size houses to be in the same band.

If you can find similar houses nearby in Band C, then it would definitely be worth pursuing. As the houses are different it would not be helpful if you asked as a group.

If you are successful in obtaining reduction it will be backdated to 1 Apr 1993 (E and S), 1 Apr 2005 (W).