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

campbeji

Hi Skye0705,

skye0705 wrote:

How can I find the same house price details for Northern Ireland - still part of UK when I last checked?

Yes we are still part of the UK, unless someone changed the rules over Christmas and hasn't told me yet:D

We do however operate with a different set of rules to the rest of the UK especially when it comes to Rates/Council Tax. As you know our system is in the process of changing, assuming our local politicians do not fall out again (and get the whole thing changed again the way it happened with the schools).

I believe our system is changing from a system based on rental value to sales value, it sounds similar to Council tax but will probably be worse, and of course they are adding in a whole new tax in the form of water/sewage rates.

But as you asked the ability to check actual values of our property back on the date in question (1999 or 2000 I think) would be a great help to see how much we are getting stitched up by.

bnoc

My question relates to basing an appeal on there having been "physical changes in your area which could affect the value of your property" (quoted from: voa.gov.uk).

When we moved into our house there was a shop a couple of doors down which has subsequently been changed into a sandwich bar and the pleasant local indian takeaway a couple of doors the other way is now a noisy kebab house. This naturally will affect the value of the property, but does it fall within the requisite ground of appeal?

I've read the article and all of the posts in this thread (couldn't find the old thread, link anyone?) but my particular problem hasn't been answered.

Additionally, there are 38 properties in the immediate area and while the majority of those that are houses are in band D (mine included) some 12 are band C and I can't see any big difference in the houses. So I hope the list officer will see it as unfair and lower my banding (of course always possible they'll raise everyone else's instead).

Any pointers regarding the "physical changes" issue would be appreciated.

bye_bye_band_G

bnoc, I'm guessing you are pursuing the 'physical changes' route to make a valid appeal because there are no other grounds open to you, ie presumably you've lived in your property over the time limit for a valid appeal. Who knows whether a tribunal would rule in favour of your arguments, you can only try. And it is a good thing to make an appeal on these grounds, even if you are not sure how valid they are, as the VOA will not want to to go to appeal with you, and may well phone you a day or two before to go over it all with you.

Sound sure of your arguments and say that you will most definitely be at the hearing. They will be willing at that point to listen carefully to the discrepancies you see between your band D home and the band Cs nearby, and if you have your figures available about those, you stand a good chance.
I get the impression that the imminence of an appeal they have to send a representative to often helps them to make their minds up favourably towards you.

Regarding the possibility that they would raise everyone else's instead of lowering yours, my understanding is that it doesn't work like that. (I think??) Homeowners who haven't requested a rebanding can't be changed. Anyone??

DubDriver

bye_bye_band_G wrote:

bnoc,
Regarding the possibility that they would raise everyone else's instead of lowering yours, my understanding is that it doesn't work like that. (I think??) Homeowners who haven't requested a rebanding can't be changed. Anyone??

Although it is rare, the VOA can increase the banding of a property at any time as part of their duty to maintain the Council Tax List. Main exception would be where a banding has already been agreed as part of an appeal and there have been no changes to property/location etc since that agreement.

smellynelly_3

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this board. I have managed to get my council tax banding down from a C to a B by making a few calls to the VOA. At first they warned me that all the other houses in my street ,which were all B, could be revalued to a C and i would not be popular as a result. After a few weeks I rang to see what was happening and they said i was unsucessful and was correctly banded a C. I pointed out again that my neighbours houses were not just similar but were identical to mine and it could not possible be right. The VOA looked into it again and a few days later I was rebanded as a B.

Moral of the story is stick to your guns if you know you are right. I got six hundrend pounds refunded and it was rebanded back to 1993. My only gripe is it seems my exhusband who doesnt pay maintaince got the years from 1993 to 1996 refunded to him as he was living here then along with me. I can only presume that his name was on the bill first he got those years. Even though we were married at the time and were both contributing to the council tax.

Maisie

smellynelly wrote:

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this board. I have managed to get my council tax banding down from a C to a B by making a few calls to the VOA. At first they warned me that all the other houses in my street ,which were all B, could be revalued to a C and i would not be popular as a result. After a few weeks I rang to see what was happening and they said i was unsucessful and was correctly banded a C. I pointed out again that my neighbours houses were not just similar but were identical to mine and it could not possible be right. The VOA looked into it again and a few days later I was rebanded as a B.

Moral of the story is stick to your guns if you know you are right. I got six hundrend pounds refunded and it was rebanded back to 1993. My only gripe is it seems my exhusband who doesnt pay maintaince got the years from 1993 to 1996 refunded to him as he was living here then along with me. I can only presume that his name was on the bill first he got those years. Even though we were married at the time and were both contributing to the council tax.

Smellynelly. Good to hear you got your band lowered and a refund. As you say perseverance pays off.

Don't be fobbed off by council/voa if you think you have a good case.

Has the voa said the ex has the refund for 1993 - 1996?
Don't know what your relationship is like with him but ask for half his refund if you were both paying council tax at that time.

Have a great New Year with the lower band.

Maisie original poster

Zebedeee

My case has been referred to a tribunal in February. Has anyone on here been to a VOA tribunal, and what has your experience been? Has anyone actually won at a tribunal? I'd appreciate your comments.

Gnasher04_2

I have to admit that I was very sceptical at first when I read about challenging our Council Tax valuation, but took the plunge and challenged the valuation....

And the good news is that Our property has been rebanded, and we are due an approximate refund of £500 !!!

So thanks to everyone who has contributed to this forum, it was reading your comments that convinced me to go for it !

So if anyone else is unsure about challenging their valuation Go For It!

wfarrar

I have recently had my banding changed from a C to a B and have recieved a refund from the Council Tax Office. However, they have only refunded back to January 2003, and we have been in our house since February 1995. The Valuation report showed the banding change as effective from February 1995. Who decides how far to back date these refunds and how? Does anybody know? Can I take it further with the Council? (Wakefield District Council in West Yorkshire).

Thanks for any advice.
:rolleyes:

Maisie

Gnasher04 wrote:

I have to admit that I was very sceptical at first when I read about challenging our Council Tax valuation, but took the plunge and challenged the valuation....

And the good news is that Our property has been rebanded, and we are due an approximate refund of £500 !!!

So thanks to everyone who has contributed to this forum, it was reading your comments that convinced me to go for it !

So if anyone else is unsure about challenging their valuation Go For It!

Great news Gnasher04 Just shows you can win against incorrect council tax banding. Perseverance pays off.

Your post gives encouragement to others.

Maisie OP