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

Zebedeee

gatita wrote: »

Can anyone give me any idea how long they take to reply to a request to be re banded?
I submitted a request about 3 weeks ago, but haven't heard a thing.

I don't think that is an unusual length of time to wait, but it wouldn't do any harm to give them a ring to check they received your letter and chivvy them along a bit.

HTH!

Zebedeee

pinky_emily

I have written to my local council as all of the flats on my street are in the band below me, and in my house there is a maisonette which is in the same band as me, despite being twice the size of my property and has a garden and parking (which i don't have). My local valuations officer appears to have refused my appeal on the grounds of my 1991 valuation only. Is there any way to appeal against this? It really doesn't seem fair...

supersonicannie

I bought a new build 8 years ago, in a small close of only 14 houses. Some are 4 bedroom and some 5. Mine is 4. I looked up the banding for the close and find that all the house are banded G. Not sure what to do, Does anyone know what the criteria is for an H banded house?

Many thanks.

everettian

After checking my house I am definitely in the wrong band.
I have lodged an on line appeal and this morning spoken to my local valuation office. whilst they say I may well be entitled to have my reduction in banding, they say I am not entitled to any refund because I have lived in my house for over the 6 months time limit (I have lived here since 1997)
Thanks to the program it looks like I may well get a £300 reduction, but no refund
Anybody have any advice on this ??

MAXCAT67

Hi Gatita
The Nottingham VOA were very quick to come back to me..... it was a negative response however, but it only took them a week!

shaggis_2

I was lucky enough to be rebanded in 1999 .graet but i didnt realise that even though ive been rebanded for my council tax it doesnt make any difference to my water rates so i am still losing out.As my friend lives 2mins away same sort of house but as she was banded correct at the beginning she pays £140 a year less for her water.so even though your being rebanded for council tax you will still pay same for water. i contact them and they said if it goes down it doesnt make any difference but if you go up a band it will go up.So come on martin lets see if you can change this as it seems many people would benefit.

exvoperson

shaggis wrote: »

I was lucky enough to be rebanded in 1999 .graet but i didnt realise that even though ive been rebanded for my council tax it doesnt make any difference to my water rates so i am still losing out.As my friend lives 2mins away same sort of house but as she was banded correct at the beginning she pays £140 a year less for her water.so even though your being rebanded for council tax you will still pay same for water. i contact them and they said if it goes down it doesnt make any difference but if you go up a band it will go up.So come on martin lets see if you can change this as it seems many people would benefit.

Water rates are based on the old domestic rates ie that before Poll tax. It is not based on your banding as far as I'm aware. Thats why new houses have to be on a water meter. I can only think where a band has increased this is due to an extension so the water broard has applied to the VO for a revised rateable value (or they work one out themselves) Rateable value is the old banding system except it was a value in pounds and varied from a few to several hundred pounds and every house could be different!

exvoperson

everettian wrote: »

After checking my house I am definitely in the wrong band.
I have lodged an on line appeal and this morning spoken to my local valuation office. whilst they say I may well be entitled to have my reduction in banding, they say I am not entitled to any refund because I have lived in my house for over the 6 months time limit (I have lived here since 1997)
Thanks to the program it looks like I may well get a £300 reduction, but no refund
Anybody have any advice on this ??

You may well be entitled to a refund what you are not entitled to is a right of appeal as you are outside the six month time limit for new occupiers. You need to write to or email the VOA giving them all the details as to why you feel your band should be reduced. Also ask that if they are unwilling to reduce the band then could they provide details reasons for their decision. If not happy with their reasons then ask to to reconsider which should be done by a more senior caseworker

exvoperson

supersonicannie wrote: »

I bought a new build 8 years ago, in a small close of only 14 houses. Some are 4 bedroom and some 5. Mine is 4. I looked up the banding for the close and find that all the house are banded G. Not sure what to do, Does anyone know what the criteria is for an H banded house?

Many thanks.

I assume you mean you want it reduced to Band f (120000-160,000) not increased to band H. To see if you are in the right band try using the index as shown on the main site. Also check in the local library for sales in 1991, the valuation date for council tax. Also check the VOA website for your area and look for those houses in band f with the date to one side of 4/1993. These tend to be the houses reduced by the VOA which you can check by clicking on the address you will be taken to a new screen where often but not always you will see the line' view banding history' click on this. If it has been reduced from g to f it can be used as a comparasion for your property.

Acydman

I am in a what I think is a unique situation and not sute what to do. I live in a one-off house, there is no other built like it in the UK, its a 4 bed detached. The rest of the street is over 80 semis all band C rated.

I have cheked the Nationwide web site and it reckons the house was worth £110k in 1991 but were in the band above.

So with no true comparables, and the fact it's been recognised correctly as a higher value house compared to rest of the street is it worth chasing?