VOA want to visit...

dfarry

Just to add... what was so wrong about the old rates system? (I never owned a property back then so really know how that worked).

lincroft1710

Rates system was property based just like CT and still exists for non domestic properties, but is based on rental values.

dfarry

Thanks Jimmo... yes the visit seems to be inevitable, my inter personal skills are fine so I'll have to down play the house in the hope that I reach a sympathetic ear

[Deleted User]

I thought the VOA was a radio station.

John_Pierpoint

I had a visit from a valuer to do with compensation for road "improvements".
The job had bee subcontracted to "Atkins" by the local authority.
They sent a young man probably qualified and nice manners BUT a complete idiot. He had not bothered to gen up on what the local authority had done in the way of "improvements" he also had no idea of the difference between North South East and West.
After he had been present for over half an hour and was about to leave, did he say something that made me realise the above. So anything my wife and I had said had been a complete waste of time.
Your might get some lazy (over worked?) individual like this, so I would prepare your case in writing, with some nice photos if possible, to make your case (For example your property no longer has its open aspect suffers from........ is over shadowed by......... has lost ........... in land area, it does not have the (soon to be compulsory?) carbon measures built into those of your neighbours etc etc, all of which must have devalued it?!?)

lincroft1710

The person who visits will probably not be the person who has the final say on the tax band. Although it might have changed since I was in VOA, and some offices do work in different way, the caseworkers would inspect, measure up and then either ask me to put band on or approve their choice of band. And I was not keen on creating a lot of appeal work for myself. The visiting caseworker will not discuss the band with you, although he will politely listen to any points you make and most definitely will not band it on the spot.

Most of John Pierpoint's suggestions although well meant are at this stage of little practical help. Only if you appeal against the band do you need to prepare a case or take photos. CT takes a "broadbrush" approach and what he lists as negatives, the vast majority of houses suffer from, so only if your house is badly overlooked or on an exceptionally cramped plot is it likely to have an effect on its value which still may not affect the band.

Jimmo must live in an area with a very employee focused education authority. Although the area I worked in isn't the cheapest most of the S.C.H.s are 60s/70s soulless brick boxes (houses or bungalows) often in very close proximity to school/roadway with no defined front garden (a point made to me on more than one occasion by school caretakers).

Remember whatever the band increase you have a right of appeal against the new band and a right to present your case before the independent Valuation Tribunal if you cannot reach agreement with the VOA.

dfarry

No point prolonging the inevitable, we decided to let the VOA person come around today.

I wasn't around today but apparently she just measured up outside and that was about it. She said she didn't think that if the band was going to increase it would go up by much.

Will have to wait and see.

lincroft1710

When VOA tells you, please let us know what the band increase is.

dfarry

Will do

dfarry

Well I was right.... despite the valuer saying... "It might not increase and if it does I really don't think it will go up anymore than one band", my band has been increased from a band D to a band F (houses costing 120,001 - 160,000 back in good old 1991!).

Financially this means we have gone from paying £1459.00 to £2107.44 for 2009/10..... will we be using an extra £600 of services?.... or £600 more services per year than the previous owners who were on a band D for the past ten years.

This is why I think the system is really unfair as basing it on house prices there is no correlation (that I can see) between that and the use of council services.

I notice there are certain reductions possible for example:-

The Council Tax Benefit scheme gives benefit to those resident listed above. in a chargeable dwelling and liable for the council tax. They should be on a low income with capital below a prescribed level (the capital level is currently 16,000 per claim), OR in receipt of income support or an income-based jobseekers allowance.

I have recently changed my career and am starting at the bottom again... to be honest I don't earn that much more than the £16K above and considering we get no state help (and never have done) other than child allowance and very small family credit I can see how some people would rather stay unemployed..... it seems to be cheaper.

So with my sole income (I'm always out working), my partner who looks after the kids and the two kids themselves I think things are going to get much tighter.

Sorry if this is a bit of a rant.... I'm very angry though.... actually I'm not.... I feel more exasperated by this country, taxes, the cost of living where the vast majority of working/middle classes get squeezed for more and more.... and there is no point appealing.... the house is what it is, it's unique (so nothing to compare against) and as I mentioned earlier in this thread other detached houses nearby seem to be band F. If the council can get away with a band F then they will do, it's a no-brainer.

A bad start to the week!