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

mariecc_2

We also had a letter saying no to rebanding, and no appeal could be made.

Unfortunately, at the time of all this banding there were no properties for sale that were similar, small village, did my work on the newpapers no joy.

But, and heres a big but, Laings built houses selling last year, in my village, we also bought our house last July. I have checked their banding on house that were valued above the value of the house we bought.

They are a band lower than us.

My question is can I use this current value and banding to request a reduction again based on these grounds.

If the voa believe these new houses are band e, and we can proove the value and purchase of our house, do you think I should go for it???

If so How would I put this in writing?

GSD4ME

Having read a lot of this thread, I am vey confused.

Two people I know live in properties that are 8 years old, they bought them new. They have just found out that the 4 bed, double garage houses down the road were in the same band E as they were and their houses are only 3 bed, single garage. Both households challenged their banding, both got them reduced immediately and they got £1,400 back.

According to a lot of the stuff on this board you have to apply within 6 months of moving in or it is thrown out. I tried to challenge my banding and have filled on one form and now been sent another.

I cannot understand how these other people did it so easily.

mcoops43

I have just recd notification of a refund of council tax for the last ten years, due to a banding error.The cheque is in the post! However has anyone recd an int refund from their council for monies owed?

Zebedeee

mcoops43 wrote: »

I have just recd notification of a refund of council tax for the last ten years, due to a banding error.The cheque is in the post! However has anyone recd an int refund from their council for monies owed?

Read back on this thread. There are a number of posts on this subject in the recent past.

Maisie

Zebedee. congrats on your 100 posts . All good advice.

Maisie

maggett

Could anyone tell me if I can claim for my previous property, I moved last September but had been there since 1991? Thanks

Maisie

maggett wrote: »

Could anyone tell me if I can claim for my previous property, I moved last September but had been there since 1991? Thanks

maggett. As you have left your property you can't claim for a rebanding on your previous property. However if you can persuade the present owners to apply and if they are successful you could claim your part of the rebate for the time you lived there.

Look back at the posts on this thread. There's loads of good information and many posters with the same question as you.

Would advise anyone thinking of applying to voa to look through this thread first and you'll probably find your question asked many times before... and answered by some very knowledgeable people.

HTH

maisie

Daisy_Bell

Update: I have now found out it doesn't matter how much evidence you have that your Council Tax Band was wrong from the beginning, if you are 'Out of Time' - that is you have been in the property for more than six months and have not appealed, they declare your Proposal 'Invalid'! You can attend an 'Notice of Invalidity' Tribunal, but that is just so you can say why you are out of time. That's all. You cannot produce any evidence as to why you think you are in the wrong Council Tax band. I was told by Coventry Valuation Office that these 'Notice of Invalidity' Tribunals will never declare against the VO in 'Out of Time' cases. The Valuation Office will investigate your 'Proposal', but if they insist you ARE in the correct band, say you cannot appeal any further because because of this 'Out of Time' rule. So.. there you are! At least I tried!

guppy

Daisy_Bell wrote: »

Update: I have now found out it doesn't matter how much evidence you have that your Council Tax Band was wrong from the beginning, if you are 'Out of Time' - that is you have been in the property for more than six months and have not appealed, they declare your Proposal 'Invalid'! You can attend an 'Notice of Invalidity' Tribunal, but that is just so you can say why you are out of time. That's all. You cannot produce any evidence as to why you think you are in the wrong Council Tax band. I was told by Coventry Valuation Office that these 'Notice of Invalidity' Tribunals will never declare against the VO in 'Out of Time' cases. The Valuation Office will investigate your 'Proposal', but if they insist you ARE in the correct band, say you cannot appeal any further because because of this 'Out of Time' rule. So.. there you are! At least I tried!

Have you shown your evidence to the VO? If they still insist you're in the correct band, ask exactly why your evidence is wrong. The standard letters they send out don't really help.

Even though you can't go to a tribunal the VO still has take note of any evidence you send them. If you're still convinced your band is wrong or you think you have been treated unfairly ask for someone senior to give you a second opinion.

MinMoz

Surprising development in my valuation appeal.

Current situation is my 2 bed, 1 bath terrace is the band higher than the 3 bed, 2 bath house next door.

Was previously told by the assessors that my appeal was invalid and the neighbour was just lucky.

My last point was to mention that as per the assessors website a number of 3 bed houses had been rebranded within the last five years to the band below me - why was there this inconsistency - was it becuase they are now getting inundated??

That was about 2 months ago and I heard nothing - was bored so didnt chase up but got a registered delivery mail this morning confirming the date (20th June) for my appeal hearing!

Has anyone else reached this stage? If so, what should I be doing? This has re-ignited my interest in the whole shambles of a situation!!

Fortunately I live in a clone housing estate so I am thinking that if I take along details of the original 1993 inconsistencies with the bands and if that gets booted out my second stance would be other houses in the area that have been successfully re-assessed since.

Any thoughts??

(point to note - I originally contacted them in Sept 06 so I am sure you can understand my boredom! :snow_laug )