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

Quality_Time

vivatifosi wrote: »

Let's try that again:

Here's the website for the VTS website where you can view previous decisions

http://www.valuation-tribunals.gov.uk/listings-decisions/index.html

they only show appeals after 1999, and this was 1993, so I cannot find out why the two larger houses are paying less. Any other tips on what to do next? Should I write back to Barking Office and ask them to supply evidence on why the 2 neighbours were successful - under the Freedom of Information act, will they do this? Thx.

vivatifosi

Hi Quality Time,

Rather than contacting the VOA, try the Valuation Tribunal Service for your area and explain the situation. They should be able to help as they keep records of all previous tribunals. I was able to get a copy of a recent tribunal judgement but not an old one (mid 90s) so I phoned the relevant clerk who told me what the details were.

Maisie

Quality_Time wrote: »

they only show appeals after 1999, and this was 1993, so I cannot find out why the two larger houses are paying less. Any other tips on what to do next? Should I write back to Barking Office and ask them to supply evidence on why the 2 neighbours were successful - under the Freedom of Information act, will they do this? Thx.

Quality time if you appeal to the valuations tribunal ie vivatisofi's advice, let us know the outcome as many of us are trying to get a rebanding and hitting a brick wall with voa.

I've been trying for a rebanding for the last 6 months in circumstances similar to yours and I was the original poster way back in August 2005!

Good luck. Maisie

vivatifosi

Hi Maisie,

Thought I should clarify my circumstances in case that made a difference. I had already had my appeal date through when I contacted the VTS and had also asked the VOA who didn't have a copy as it was old. It was the VOA who advised me to contact the VTS who were very helpful. I don't know if they would be able to help everyone, but certainly if you are contesting a valid claim and are going to tribunal, it is potentially an important part of your evidence. Hope this is helpful!

Daisy_Bell

Just an update folks. I was going to send in the form the VOA sent me to cancel the Notice of Invalid Proposal Tribunal that is set for the end of June. I was told by he VOA that it was pointless attending this as nobody ever won against them if they are outside the six month time limit. However, on reading through this form, I realised that it is in effect a notice to withdraw my proposal to alter the Valuation List! Well of course, I don't want to withdraw my proposal at all! So... I have decided to go through with it, even if it does prove a waste of time! If I withdraw, the VOA may well not even bother with the second review that they have promised!

HUGH1

Hi not sure if I am in the right place this is my first time on anything like this.

I applied for council tax banding after watching programme on TV and visiting Martin's website. Letter came back stating my banding was correct and I have no right to appeal.

I bought my house in 1988 for £41950.
Still in the same house 19 years later
Net house calculator shows my house value in 1991 at approx 64,000 (if I input Q1 1988 and Q2 1991) which means I should be in Band C and not D.
Booked appointment at reference library to try and find similiar properties sold on my estate during April 1991.

Any advice, do I have a case, What next??

Zebedeee

HUGH1 wrote: »

Hi not sure if I am in the right place this is my first time on anything like this.

I applied for council tax banding after watching programme on TV and visiting Martin's website. Letter came back stating my banding was correct and I have no right to appeal.

I bought my house in 1988 for £41950.
Still in the same house 19 years later
Net house calculator shows my house value in 1991 at approx 64,000 (if I input Q1 1988 and Q2 1991) which means I should be in Band C and not D.
Booked appointment at reference library to try and find similiar properties sold on my estate during April 1991.

Any advice, do I have a case, What next??

Hi HUGH1

I'd say you're on the right lines having a look in your local library to find the prices of properties actually for sale in 1991. Also, have you checked the bands of neighbouring properties, providing they are the same as/simillar to your own? You can do that on the VOA's website if you haven't done so already.

HTH

Zebedee

HUGH1

Thanks for the Info

In my small street the majority of us have been there since the houses were first built except for about 3 houses which I need to check at the library. However, there is a five bedroom house purchased 3 years ago for £237,000 and has been put in a Band D the same as me, surely this can't be right. I will be going to the library, if I find the evidence how can I then appeal when the letter says I have no right to one?

Regards

Maisie

HUGH1 wrote: »

Thanks for the Info

In my small street the majority of us have been there since the houses were first built except for about 3 houses which I need to check at the library. However, there is a five bedroom house purchased 3 years ago for £237,000 and has been put in a Band D the same as me, surely this can't be right. I will be going to the library, if I find the evidence how can I then appeal when the letter says I have no right to one?

Regards

Hi HUGH. I think from your post what voa are saying is that as you have lived in house more than 6 months you have no right of appeal. However voa have to make a fair and accurate assessment of your banding and you need to get as much evidence as possible to make them take notice of the different bandings in your road.
Look back at some of the posts there's a lot of good information further back as to what you need for evidence.. As Zebedee says the archived library records of house prices for 1991 is a good start.
Voa don't take much notice of the Nationwide calculator so don't just use that.
I'm in band D too and house worth about £65/66K in 1991 with other larger houses in same banding. One of these other large houses in band D sold for £290K in year 2000. How can that be right? However voa say it is.
It's not easy to get voa to change banding and some of the posters on the 'success' thread who've had an easy time have been lucky.
Good luck and hope it goes well.

Maisie

Daisy_Bell

HUGH1 wrote: »

Hi not sure if I am in the right place this is my first time on anything like this.

I applied for council tax banding after watching programme on TV and visiting Martin's website. Letter came back stating my banding was correct and I have no right to appeal.

I bought my house in 1988 for £41950.
Still in the same house 19 years later
Net house calculator shows my house value in 1991 at approx 64,000 (if I input Q1 1988 and Q2 1991) which means I should be in Band C and not D.
Booked appointment at reference library to try and find similiar properties sold on my estate during April 1991.

Any advice, do I have a case, What next??

Well - join the club! You're in exactly the same boat as me! Good luck!