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

hecatescarlet13

Update on interest due or not: I spoke to the Valuation Office who have advised me to send copies of the Council correspondence and rebate when I receive it (the council tell me this will be posted to me on Tuesday) to the Customer Service Manager at my area VOA and ask her to investigate whether interest should be paid, and that I am likely to get a favourable response. I'll keep you informed on that.

england_2

thanks cis for the advice
as composite means part residential part business does that mean that my house is in a higher band because it is composite. Any advice on this would be greatly received thank you

Learmouth

My house and those of my neighbours are all band D. Checked the Nationwide calculator which valued my house (in 1991) at 65k which should have put me in band C. Contacted VOA who said claim isn't valid as I've taken longer than 6 months to appeal against the banding. My question is: How do I take this further. My concern isn't that I've taken longer than 6 months to get this moving but that all of my neighbours are on the same band. The VOA seem happy to bring you down a band if you were in a higher one than your neighbours but I can't see any examples where a number of houses are all in the same band to start with. Do I need some more firepower, is there another source other than the Nationwide calculator that can tell me what my house was valued at in 1991?
Any help greatly appreciated.

Maisie

Learmouth. Look back at the posts on this thread you will see that you need plenty of evidence of house prices (yours and similar) for 1991. You'll get them from archived newspapers at the library (estate agent's columns) house sale documents etc etc. You can't go on the Nationwide calculator alone . Voa won't accept that at all.
If neighbours bought or sold around 1991 ask them for prices.
All in all you'll have to do a lot of work and find good evidence for a rebanding. It's not as easy as it looks on the 'success' thread.

There's loads of good advice and information further back on this thread.

Good luck

Maisie

stphnstevey

HELP!

Just got letter from VOA detailing what evidence they will be using in my tribunal hearing on the 19th June. They refer to 'Particulaers Delivered' - the Inland Revenue details of property sales they get access to, but I don't. I can only ask for access to four other properties and then I have to visit their office (which is miles away!) to be allowed to copy them.

I am also allowed to inspect an docs under 'Schudule 9 to the Local Goverment Finance Act 1988 or section 27(1) or (3) of the Local Goverment Act 1992 - WHAT?

If anybody can help with this or know of how I can access this info online, it would be very much appreciated!

Maisie

Have you tried putting the titles of the local govt acts 1988 & 1992 in google? They may be there for you to read.

Also I think further back on this thread Guppy posted good information on these acts and there may be a link there. Have a look back at previous posts.

Some of those posters on 'success' thread have been extremely fortunate in having an easy ride on their rebanding. Stephn you are showing it is not so easy for many of us.

Guppy or jamesiebabie may be around to give you more advice.

Good luck. Maisie

guppy

stphnstevey wrote: »

HELP!

Just got letter from VOA detailing what evidence they will be using in my tribunal hearing on the 19th June. They refer to 'Particulaers Delivered' - the Inland Revenue details of property sales they get access to, but I don't. I can only ask for access to four other properties and then I have to visit their office (which is miles away!) to be allowed to copy them.

I am also allowed to inspect an docs under 'Schudule 9 to the Local Goverment Finance Act 1988 or section 27(1) or (3) of the Local Goverment Act 1992 - WHAT?

If anybody can help with this or know of how I can access this info online, it would be very much appreciated!

Hello,

It might be worth asking if the VOA can send you copies of sales documents by post, as a "customer service" issue. If the VOA are using more than four sales, you are allowed to see the same number too.

Make sure the sales that the VOA intend to use as evidence are of properties that are similar to yours. If you believe they are more valuable for any reason, question this at tribunal.

I wouldn't worry about the other bits of legislation quoted, I don't think they are relevant. You can look at the 1992 Act here though:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1992/Ukpga_19920014_en_3.htm

The 1988 Act only concerns non-domestic properties.

The tribunal won't expect you to start quoting law, you just need to show that your property is banded incorrectly.

You can look at past decisions made in your area here:

http://info.valuation-tribunals.gov.uk/Decision_query.asp?Mode=1

If you're lucky some of them might be relevant to your property.

Good luck.

creamtea_2

Just asked for a review and had a letter from local Listings Officer saying that bands are based on amounts which property might reasonably have fetched in 1991 irrespective of actual sales.
We are banded B same as bigger, extended properties in area. Basic ones like ours with nil added have sold recently under the equivalent 1991 value.
Listing officer says may need to visit. Have disabled husband and no regard to this. Have we any chance. Advice appreciated. Thanks.

mcguire6078

I managed to find the VOA Council Tax Manual which will help you identify a Standard Letter. www.voa.gov.uk/instructions

Please see my earlier post regarding my case. I was sent at least two standard letters...if you have a strong case, just keep persisting. When the VOA write to you, Identify the main point of any communication, if it does not answer your question or specifies a particular point (my case was size of the property) request further evidence/information. When writing to the VOA list and number all issues/points you may have as the VOA has to reply and explain each point (this tip was given to me by the VOA on my initial telephone enquiry).

I have noticed several people posting messages mentioning that they have checked the VOA and all similar/neighbouring properties have the same banding and then checked the internet price comparison website and prices in 1991 were less than the current band. I’m afraid to say this is a very poor case and you are unlikely to receive a successful review.

Strong Case (any one of these)
1. Neighbours properties in lower band if your property is of similar style/size
2. You have hard evidence of a sale in 1991 (of your property or similar in your street)

Poor case
1. All neighbours properties are in same band and you have checked Internet property price comparison websites which gives a lower valuation/banding
2. Making comparisons which are not local to your property (a banding comparison must be of a neighbouring property, in the same street or very closely located).

6 Month Ruling
Please don’t worry about this issue. The VOA has a duty to ensure the property banding is correct. Just ask for a review and if you have a good case the VOA will investigate.

Maisie

mcguire6078 wrote: »

I managed to find the VOA “Council Tax Manual” which will help you identify a Standard Letter http://www.voa.gov.uk/instructions/chapters/council_tax/Frame.htm

Please see my earlier post on my case. I was sent at least two standard letters...if you have a strong case, just keep persisting. When the VOA write to you, Identify the main point of any communication, if it does not answer your question or specifies a particular point (my case was size of the property) request further evidence information

I have noticed several people posting messages mentioning that they have checked the VOA and all similar/neighbouring properties have the same banding and then checked the internet price comparison website and prices in 1991 were less than the current band. I’m afraid to say this is a very poor case and you are unlikely to receive a successful review.

Strong Case (any one of these)
1. Neighbours properties in lower band if your properties is of similar style/size
2. You have hard evidence of a sale in 1991 (lower than your current band)

Poor case
1. All neighbours properties are in same band and you have checked Internet property price comparison websites which gives a lower valuation/banding
2. Making comparisons which are not local to your property (same street).

6 Month Ruling:
Please don’t worry about this issue. The VOA has a duty to ensure the property banding is correct. Just ask for a review and if you have a good case the VOA will investigate.

Good advice Mcguire.

Some posters think if they check their house value on Nationwide calculator and there's a difference they can ask for a rebanding!

Not as easy as that!