Council Tax Cost Cutting: reduce your band and grab any discounts Discussion Area

Dribble_2

Maisie wrote: »

Same thing with bigger houses in this area and at lower and same bands.....
......Others with garages and other parking space/ more bedrooms/larger flat gardens/better views/ more land on a C band. One selling for nearly £300K in 2006. Ridiculous for voa to compare the two houses and one on a lower band.

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Hi Maisie

Been through all this with 'em. Frustrating isn't it !? Even felt intimidated by statements suggesting properties I had mentioned as comparisons would now be considered for re-banding upwards. (Wouldn't that make me popular locally!?) They told me a decision had been made and correspondence would end. But it hasn't.
If your situation will hold water I see no reason why you shouldn't escalate it to a higher authority. A fairer system seems a long way off so it's well worth the hassle.

Maisie

Jib_Jib wrote: »

Hi
We tried to pursue this as our neighbours with bigger land are all on Band B. Was told that there's nothing we can do about it by the VOA people and we couldnt appeal against it. Is that the end of it or is there anything we can do?

Many thanks
Jib Jib

Jib Jib. You have to continually find new evidence and don't give up. If you read this thread you'll find many cases like yours. Many of us are having a hard time but keep battling on.

Find house sales for 1991 etc. There's plenty of information further back on thread.

Good luck

Maisie

Maisie

Dribble wrote: »

Maisie wrote: »

Same thing with bigger houses in this area and at lower and same bands.....
......Others with garages and other parking space/ more bedrooms/larger flat gardens/better views/ more land on a C band. One selling for nearly £300K in 2006. Ridiculous for voa to compare the two houses and one on a lower band.

---

Hi Maisie

Been through all this with 'em. Frustrating isn't it !? Even felt intimidated by statements suggesting properties I had mentioned as comparisons would now be considered for re-banding upwards. (Wouldn't that make me popular locally!?) They told me a decision had been made and correspondence would end. But it hasn't.
If your situation will hold water I see no reason why you shouldn't escalate it to a higher authority. A fairer system seems a long way off so it's well worth the hassle.

Hi Dribble.
voa told me the properties I mentioned are under investigation and incorrectly banded so probably means rebanding for them. Although they haven't actually said that.

Of course I don't want other properties' bands raised. Just mine lowered.
It's all very frustrating and wrong when these so called errors have been running since 1993 and when we want equal banding they make different rules.

I think they have a rule where they can't just raise a banding so wait to see what happens to these other properties.

As Zebedee says.. Nil Desperandum..!

Anyone new posting on here I would say 'read the thread' There's so much good advice and information from the likes of you Dribble, Jamesiebabie, Zebedee, Guppy and others.

Good luck and let us know of any further developments.

Maisie

Maisie

MinMoz wrote: »

I too am getting very frustrated at the apparent processes they have in place.

Now in the 8th month of chasing this (taken the last few weeks off as boredom set in).

The threatened appeal that didnt happen has now passed and the VOA have advised that they are happy with my banding. The house through the wall, despite being larger and having 1 more bed and bathroom, is the band below me - described by the VOA as their good fortune.

Unlike some of you guys I have the benefit is living in an estate with about 100 identical houses. Having looked at their Website it appears that there are 6 houses that have been rebanded (or reviewed) since 1991 - the majority of which are larger than mine.

I am now going with this argument. It doesnt make much difference to the monthly outgoings to go down a band but there is a principal involved!!

Surely this appraoch will be successful or are they maybe changing their approach after receiving so much correspondence? If so can they do this?? Probably a law unto themselves just like the councils!

Min Moz

Sounds if you're in the same situation as some of us on this thread.
The whole council tax system is so unfair.

With the 'house through the wall' to you being larger and on a lower band and the voa saying it is 'their good fortune' is really rubbing salt into the wound. Have you complained about their gloating?. I think I would and also expect an apology.
That kind of comment from them is unnecessary.

Don't give up your fight.. You'll find plenty of support on this thread.

Maisie

frugalpam

frugalpam wrote: »

Hi,

I'm in the process of asking for my banding to be reassessed. In the letter the local VOA have sent me, they have said

"If I am satisfied that no alteration is appropriate, I will let you know by letter but would advise you that if this is the outcome, you will not be able to appeal against my decision

I've been reading some of the success stories on the Board, and someone in the same County as myself has said that originally, the Listing Officer declined to place them in another band, but that they appealed within the 'statutory 21 days' and won. I'm a bit confused how all this works - can I appeal (if they turn me down), and how do I do that? :think:

Many thanks for any advice you can give me,

Pam

bump....

Can anyone advise, please?
thanks
Pam

Zebedeee

frugalpam wrote: »

bump....

Can anyone advise, please?
thanks
Pam

Pam, have you moved into the house, or become the Council Tax Payer within the last 6 months? If so, you do have a statutory right to appeal your banding.

If not, although not technically allowed an 'appeal' you can request that the VOA do reassess whether you are in the correct band, as they have a duty to maintain their register correct and up-to-date. Even if you have already done this, write again, listing as many reasons as possible why you deserve having your case looked at again. Stick to solid evidence, such as comparisons with like houses in the neighbourhood and selling values in 1991 rather than the pricing calculators.

If you look back at past postings you'll see how perseverance has paid off for many!

HTH!

Zebedee

guppy

frugalpam wrote: »

bump....

Can anyone advise, please?
thanks
Pam

Hello Pam,

From the letter it sounds like you aren't able to make a formal appeal but they are looking in to it. You can always phone and check its been logged on their computer system.

If you are lucky they will reduce your band, but if they believe it is correct and you disagree, there is no option to appeal to an independent tribunal.

But, as I've said before...they are a public body, so they can't just say no and then ignore you if you are unhappy.

If you disagree with the outcome you can ask them to explain their decision in detail (they won't do this otherwise) and if you still disagree with them or feel unfairly treated, ask for someone more senior to look in to it for you.

If you do get knocked back first time, then as others have said, you'll need to get some hard evidence to convince them. Unfortunately you won't be getting the benefit of the doubt so you really need to get your facts together.

Hopefully the latter stage won't be necessary. Good luck!

maz525_2

Maisie wrote: »

Dribble wrote: »

Hi Dribble.
voa told me the properties I mentioned are under investigation and incorrectly banded so probably means rebanding for them. Although they haven't actually said that.

Of course I don't want other properties' bands raised. Just mine lowered.
It's all very frustrating and wrong when these so called errors have been running since 1993 and when we want equal banding they make different rules.

I think they have a rule where they can't just raise a banding so wait to see what happens to these other properties.

As Zebedee says.. Nil Desperandum..!

Anyone new posting on here I would say 'read the thread' There's so much good advice and information from the likes of you Dribble, Jamesiebabie, Zebedee, Guppy and others.

Good luck and let us know of any further developments.

Maisie

Hi i'm new, so much info, i'm c but i think i should be a b, but if they say no to you because they say your house would have been worth £54,000 in 1991, but i have the valuation report from when i bought the house in 1993 which reads £45,000 should i persue, house's on the street are b and c but there is same style house's as mine b, the street consists of semis, detacted, dorma style semis and bunglows, hope you can help.

Marzeater

Hi I got my house rebanded from a D to a C, backdated to 1994. I've not had a figure from them yet.
Can I claim accrued interest from them?
Also how long should I give the council before sending in the bailiffs, Knowsley Council are very quick off the mark to do it.

Dribble_2

maz525 wrote: »

Maisie wrote: »

.......I'm c but i think i should be a b, but if they say no to you because they say your house would have been worth £54,000 in 1991, but i have the valuation report from when i bought the house in 1993 which reads £45,000 should i persue..........

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Hi maz525

Yes! - if it all seems obvious to YOU. It seems,in many cases,as if an automated response is sent from them stating how properties fell in value from around 1991 and didn't regain those values until as late as 1997. It get's 'em off the hook if you don't do your homework and come up with evidence to the contrary.
The good news is that tribunals seem to prefer actual figures to general property trends.....which are nonsensical in many instances.Trawl through all past useful postings and you'll be on your way. It's agony but you're in good company.