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

EIMB28

I have been successful in getting my flat rebanded from B to A. I bought the property in 2000 and lived there until I rented it out in October 2006.

I got the impression from some of the articles on this topic that the current owner is entitled to a rebate going back to 1991, is this correct or do the previous owners get contacted and refunded, surely not?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as to what happens next, I live in Southwark, London, does anyone have any experience of how Southwark deal with the rebates?

Also does has anyone tried to get a rebate on a property they own but don't currently pay the council tax on as it is rented?

Thanks.

vivatifosi

Hi EIMB28,

It is the person paying the council tax who gets a rebate. However, as you previously lived there, you may still be entitled to a rebate for the period 2000-2006. You need to establish the date that the ruling was effective from. If the property was incorrectly banded from the get go, the rebate should go back to Council Tax introduction, with your claiming the rebate for the period you lived there. If on the other hand the council tax reduction is due to a material decrease in the value of the property (eg a flyover has been built across the back garden) then the effective date is more likely to be more recent.

If the rebanding was established at tribunal, then a copy of the notes pertaining to the decision should be available on the Valuation Tribunal Service website. Alternatively check the effective from date against the property on the VOA website.

If you have any queries beyond this, the VOA or VTS should be able to confirm the dates, and Southwark Council should process any repayments. It can take about 6 weeks for the council to get a list of properties for rebanding, and the councils, in my experience as a tribunal winner, start contacting the taxpayers after that. In my case they also tried to track the previous owners as well, which was easy as they were still in the borough. If you've moved to a different borough, nothing to stop you helping them by telling them how to find you!

Hope that helps!

Zebedeee

EIMB28 wrote: »

I have been successful in getting my flat rebanded from B to A. I bought the property in 2000 and lived there until I rented it out in October 2006.

I got the impression from some of the articles on this topic that the current owner is entitled to a rebate going back to 1991, is this correct or do the previous owners get contacted and refunded, surely not?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as to what happens next, I live in Southwark, London, does anyone have any experience of how Southwark deal with the rebates?

Also does has anyone tried to get a rebate on a property they own but don't currently pay the council tax on as it is rented?

Thanks.

EIMB28, although the valuation date is 1991 Council Tax didn't actually start until 1993, so if you were the council tax payer from then on you could get a rebate dating back to 1993. Assuming you were the council tax payer from 2000 until October 2006 this is the time period you would be refunded for and any previous or subsequent council tax payers would be refunded for the time they were paying over the odds.

I'm afraid I can't help with any advice about Southwark. Perhaps some of the others on here can?

HTH!

Zebedee

EIMB28

The rebanding was awarded without any real hassle or going to a tribunal as the evidence was pretty overwhelming.

I bought the flat from a property company who still own the freehold are a reall bunch of rogues and it galls me to think that they might benefit from my hard work!

I would be surprised if Southwark bothered to get in touch with anyone else apart from me and the tenant and current council tax payer.

I think that the current owner should get the benefit of the rebate going back to 1993 after all I am the one who has done the legwork although judging by other people's experiences on this forum I have had a very easy journey!

Zebedeee

EIMB28 wrote: »

.... judging by other people's experiences on this forum I have had a very easy journey!

I should say! I started my appeal process one year ago, and I am still waiting to get my money back! I hope you get yours rather quicker.
:j

vivatifosi

Crikey Zebedee,

I can't believe you haven't had your money yet, especially considering the amount of work you put in!

abandhev

Hi,
Can anyone tell us how to get a tribunal involved in our dispute? We started the proccess off at the beginning of the year, and then sent in a full letter stating our case in August. The Valuation Office promised to look into it and reply within two months. Time's just run out, and still nothing (How surprising!) There are 8 properties in out road in band F, and all the rest in band E, even though we're all roughly the same value.

Zebedeee

abandhev wrote: »

Hi,
Can anyone tell us how to get a tribunal involved in our dispute? We started the proccess off at the beginning of the year, and then sent in a full letter stating our case in August. The Valuation Office promised to look into it and reply within two months. Time's just run out, and still nothing (How surprising!) There are 8 properties in out road in band F, and all the rest in band E, even though we're all roughly the same value.

I think if I were you I would give the VOA a ring and ask to speak to the person who sent you the letter saying they would be back to you within two months. It's fair enough to ask them how things stand. You never know, they may be just about to put your band down! Failing that, at least you have let them know that you have not forgotten it all or are about to give up.

Hope that helps!

Zebedee

magwright

I saw the TV programme some time ago on this subject then visited this website. I went through the process of checking the valuation in 1991 and decided I had a good chance of success.

I didn't pursue the matter immediately but, to my surprise, I received a completely unsolicited letter from the council informing me that the banding was being changed with effect from 1993.

I was in band H but have been reduced to band G. The amount refunded is around £3100. Excellent.

Now this might sound a little greedy, but in my opinion they should be paying interest on this money. Some of this overpaid council tax has been in their possession for 14 years and it is entirely the councils error that it was overpaid.

I think I have a very strong case but I'm not sure how to proceed in claiming it. Anybody know anything that might help me.

vivatifosi

Hi Magwright,

A few people have been successful in reclaiming their interest.

Kim got hers back:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=6683643&highlight=council+tax+interest#post6683643

Keith 1956 got his back, see:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=346119&page=19&highlight=Keith+1956