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

guppy

mcguire6078 wrote: »

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.

Definitely good advice! Hope you don't mind me putting a link to your previous post here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=5218714#post5218714

I thought it was a great summary of what to do if you don't succeed first time.

I also saw a very interesting post on the successes board that might help people whose council have refused to pay back to 1993.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=5200175#post5200175

and

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=5200175#post5205982

Interesting...

Mattchew

Are you still eligable to make a claim if you have recently moved from the property? We sold the property in Jan 2007 for £185,000, 1991 records indicate that the property band then should have been C when infact it has always been E.

I live in Wales - Anywhere online whereby you can get information on property sales in 1991?

Thanks in advance!

Maisie

Mattchew wrote: »

Are you still eligable to make a claim if you have recently moved from the property? We sold the property in Jan 2007 for £185,000, 1991 records indicate that the property band then should have been C when infact it has always been E.

I live in Wales - Anywhere online whereby you can get information on property sales in 1991?

Thanks in advance!

Mattchew. I don't know how it works in Wales but in England you can only apply for a review of your rebanding if you still live at the property.
If same in Wales the only way is to hope the present occupiers apply for a rebanding and then you'll get the rebate due to you.

Again in England , only way to look at property sales is to ask the neighbours or look at archived material for house sales for 1991 in the library or other evidence from builders, estate agents etc.

Look back at the posts on this thread . There's a mine of information from guppy, jamiesiebabie, mcguire and other knowlegeable posters. You'll have to spend a bit of time looking for evidence and this thread is a good way to start.

Good luck. Maisie

L.F

I've been successful in getting a substantial refund of council tax but the district council say that they don't "normally" pay interest too.

How many people have been reimbursed by VOA?

Maisie

L.F wrote: »

I've been successful in getting a substantial refund of council tax but the district council say that they don't "normally" pay interest too.

How many people have been reimbursed by VOA?

L.F. If you look back on the posts at c/t 'Success' thread and also on this thread there are a few people who have been able to get interest on top of their rebate.

L.F

I recently received a rebate cheque with no explanation from my local DC.

I then asked for a breakdown, showing how it had been calculated, and at this stage they admitted that it only went back to 1997 (as far back as their computer holds records) even though I am entitled to a rebate back to 1993. It seems that I have to claim this separately. Naughty!

Maisie

L.F wrote: »

I recently received a rebate cheque with no explanation from my local DC.

I then asked for a breakdown, showing how it had been calculated, and at this stage they admitted that it only went back to 1997 (as far back as their computer holds records) even though I am entitled to a rebate back to 1993. It seems that I have to claim this separately. Naughty!

Other posters on this thread say they have only had rebates to 1997 and have to chase the council for remainder to 1993.

Dribble_2

Skip this post! .... Mistake......finger trouble....Sorry !

Dribble_2

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.......

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Hi mcguire6078

Thanks for all those interesting posts. Like yourself,I have battled with and overcome the 'standard letters' and 'six month' ruling successfully and now communicate more reasonably with the VOA on the basis of debating the 'quality of the banding list'. Unfortunately MY listing officers are pretty rigid in their opinions and it's an uphill struggle.

My problem is convincing 'em my new build 3-bed bungalow built in 1997 for Just under £100,000 would have been below the £88,000 (band D) figure in 1991. Mine,and a few similar new properties around me are all banded 'E'.
I have firm proof of 1991 sales of similar properties in the area selling for £75,000 in 1991 which the VOA don't dispute.....but argue that my property has a larger floor area and would have cost more. I have pointed out that size is not relevant,that post-code situations etc determine value.(Using the VOA guidelines on their website) and that even had a slightly larger area property been used as a comparison at the time it would not have reaches the £88,000 band E tipping point..... No response.

The problem is that houses built after 1991 have to be 'guesstimated'. I have referred the VOA to examples of tribunal decisions where these estimated values are discouraged when actual similar properties can be used for comparison.... No response.

The latest letter from them sums up a listing officer's conclusions with the usual point about there being no right of appeal. Trouble is - I find the wording quite confusing and would appreciate any comments from you worldly-wise contributers to this forum. The relevant wording runs as follows:

"....your bungalow,which is representative of the level of sale price in **** Close,sold in early1997 for £99,950. At the same time the,sales of bungalows of a similar size to yours in **** Road were around the £75,000 to £77,000 mark. Smaller two bedroom bungalows in the same road were selling for £69,000 in1991. Adjusting for the differences in size indicates that to me the value of detached bungalows in the road in 1997 were not dissimilar in the value 1991.
Applying this evidence to your own purchase price of £99,00 in 1997,I conclude that the value of your bungalow on 1 April 1991 would have been in the range £95,000 to £100,000 which is band E."

I'm still struggling with the logic but assume my firm £75.000 sales figures in 1991 had gone 'down' and then 'up' in 1997 ????....and if so - What's that got to do with the price of bread ??... and what's the two bedroom property comparison all about ??

The saga continues...

veggie4life

well guys im in a very odd situation so i'll try and explain...

- my property is leasehold
- it is part buy part rent so i only own half of it
-i live in a tiny close with only twenty houses / flats

well the close is about twelve years old now and most of the houses are band D with the flats being band C but this seems stupid when friends four bedroom properties are in band D and mine is only two bedroom!

As the close is so small all houses are in the same band but to give an example

my neighbours house sold in aug 2003 for 97, 500 (in london but remember the part buy part rent)

and when useing the nationwide calculator it told me the property should be in band B !!

I am very confused do to the leasehold and part buy part rent situation and so am desperately hoping some very kind person on here will help !