My council tax is £1,853 (am cry!)

dobbie82

I would be very careful about appealing. I intended to appeal my band, as its been put as a band E at £1483 but looking at the values (2005 values in Wales I think?) It would be likely to be moved into a band F

mitchaa

blizeH wrote: »

Yeah there's a lot of good information on there thanks, that was the first place I looked! :-)

And fair points mitchaa. But whether or not the nationwide estimator (which by the way, is recommended by this very side) will be valid evidence the very fact my house would fall so firmly into band D on there makes me think I'm maybe onto something.
!

I used the calculator too and they dismissed it. The 1991 calculation put it firmly in band D but they were telling me it was Band E.

Their reasoning is that the house price calculator did not differentiate between locations within the areas. I.e a 4 bed detached house in a nice part of town is going to be a lot more expensive than a 4 bed detached house in a drug infested council estate. The calculator doesn't drive down that far.

No harm in trying but I doubt you will get anywhere if the calculator is your only evidence.

blizeH

Thanks so much guys - it's not a bad house, and it's not in a bad area, but I'd be quite surprised if they upgraded it to band F! Like I said the houses either side are 5 bed and a bit bigger, and they're both band E, so it might be worth me at least trying to appeal. Hopefully

bootman

I've tried appealing twice now with no luck. I'm a 3 bed house amongst 5 beds and I'm banded the same. Band G!!!!

Lady came out to measure, gave me the impression she agreed incorrect, then letter arrived saying sorry your in the correct band.

I'm paying £245 am month!!

blizeH

Jeez that is horrific! Not much hope for me then

Third time lucky for you bootman?

blizeH

This council tax thing is still bugging me. The article on here suggests the neighbourhood check is the one to go by, so even though the Nationwide valuation implies I should be dropped a band for sure, I'm not sure I'd fancy my chances

I also noticed this though:

For unoccupied and unfurnished properties which need or are undergoing major repair work to make them habitable, you can claim a Council Tax exemption for the first 12 months, provided the previous owner didn't.

I'm currently re-doing and re-decorating everything, will take maybe three months - worth me trying to get exemption status for that, or is it only if the house is entirely empty ie no one's ever in there?

Cheers

mjm3346

Maybe, if it is not habitable and you are only in there doing work, no good if you are just "doing it up" though.

blizeH

Cheers - I mean it's in a good state and I could live in there if I wanted, there's a lot I want to do anyway - it's going to take around 2/3 months I reckon, and I'm not moving in until it's all done.

Guess a phone call shouldn't hurt! Won't bother appealing the banding though, unfortunately

lincroft1710

If you aren't living in the property and it's not furnished, providing the "allowance" was not used by a previous owner you can claim up to 6 months CT exemption.

If you're just redecorating you won't be entitled to the 12 month exemption, the place has to be undergoing structural repairs for that to happen.

blizeH

Oh I see, many thanks - it's not structural repairs at all really, just changing all of the interior and fixtures etc