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

Ebonyeyes

Hi There

I bought my house in 2000 for £31,500 (worth even less in 1991) and am in a Band B. As the limit for band A is £40,000 (as I am led to believe), can I still apply to be rebanded to a Band A even though all similar houses in my area is a Band B.

Apologies if this has already been addressed, but I only found cases where neighbours have differing bands, but in my case, all bands are the same, but the house prices are less than the Band allocated.

Please help...I would love to get my band reduced - and so would my neighbours if possible!!

hkinsella

Hi

Just wondered if anyone had any luck with a similar situation and if ppl think I have a chance of getting somewhere?!

I moved in to my house last August so just out of the 6 month limit however as council tax bill only issued this month thinkin of trying this as a reason for the delay in challenging the band.

I've dug out some paperwork i got in the house sale which states that my house, which was built in 1989/90, was sold by the builders to the first occupants for £19,950.

However house is in band C which is £52,001 - £68,000 . i don't think the value could have nearly tripled in 11/12 months???

does anyone think i have a good chance of getting a re-band. (Gonna try to get from C to A, but wud be happy with B!)

Zebedeee

hkinsella wrote: »

Hi

Just wondered if anyone had any luck with a similar situation and if ppl think I have a chance of getting somewhere?!

I moved in to my house last August so just out of the 6 month limit however as council tax bill only issued this month thinkin of trying this as a reason for the delay in challenging the band.

I've dug out some paperwork i got in the house sale which states that my house, which was built in 1989/90, was sold by the builders to the first occupants for £19,950.

However house is in band C which is £52,001 - £68,000 . i don't think the value could have nearly tripled in 11/12 months???

does anyone think i have a good chance of getting a re-band. (Gonna try to get from C to A, but wud be happy with B!)

Given the information above I would go for it! Write to the VOA setting out your reasons for requesting a change in band and tell them you have documents proving the 1990 selling price. Even if they tell you that your band is correct I would ask them to explain how that can be the case, given the selling price in 1990. I think this is worth running with!

Zebedeee

Aitch7

Zebedeee wrote: »

Wouldn't it be great if it were that simple? Unfortunately, you are going to have to try and work out what the flats would have sold for individually had they been sold in 1991. Also, see if you can find other simillar flats nearby with which to compare yours to see if you can establish a pattern, or average banding.

Hope that helps!

Zebedeee

thanks for the reply - it saved me from making a fool of myself on the phone tomorrow - however, could you explain why it isn't that simple? surely as the house is divided into 4 then the price of the flats is a quarter of the house?

I dont' know how I would find out the value based on similar flats as I think they have been rented out for a very long time.

Also do you have any idea of why the basement flat is band C when the rest of us are band D?

Thanks again,
Aitch7

hkinsella

thanks zebedee,

i have just looked on voa and it just so happens that their local office is in Leeds and i am also in Leeds tomorrow so gonna pop in and see if i get anywhere!! will keep you posted

catwoman150

I have done the checks on the VOA then to netprices and nationwide websites. I Have found that all the houses in the street are band B including mine. When I did the nationwide check I found that (if I have done this right) the price of the house was £37202 which should say to me that all of the houses in the street even mine has been in the wrong band all along, as band B starts at £40,001
What do you think that I should do, if anything.

bucks73

Hello

I have just been trying to follow martins advice and went on the VOA website to check the band and put in all my details and it says not propeties found?

Can anyone help has this happened to anyone else?

Thanks

everettian

exvoperson wrote: »

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

Had a NOTICE OF INVALID PROPOSAL this morning from my local VOA office.
This is on the grounds of the 6 months law.
I can however appeal within four weeks, anyone have any tips on going for a refund ?

exvoperson

bucks73 wrote: »

Hello

I have just been trying to follow martins advice and went on the VOA website to check the band and put in all my details and it says not propeties found?

Can anyone help has this happened to anyone else?

Thanks

First try just using your postcode, if this does not work use the first part of your postcode and either house name or street name and town. Also check on VT code that it says N/A

exvoperson

Zebedeee wrote: »

It's very interesting that he agreed that your house is in the wrong band, and he is, of course, not telling the truth when he says there is nothing he can do about it. It is easier to get your banding looked at if you do it within the first 6 months, but then most of us didn't know that when we started! If I were you, I would write to the VOA explaining why you think you are in the wrong band and comparing your property with those of your neighbours'. I'd also mention that the gentleman you spoke to agreed you should be in the lower band. Point out that they have a duty, by law, to keep the lists fair and accurate, which your VO man has admitted they are not.

Hope that helps!

Zebedeee

Sorry Zebedeee to correct you but I read it that the VOA man said it was unfair that the bands were different for what appears to be 2 indentical properties. it could be that the other house is wrongly banded and should be increased.

If indentical the VOA has a duty to either increase one or reduce the other!!!!!