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

lincroft1710

Zebedeee - allgar 73's parents' house is in Scotland so it is the assessors not VOA who deal with the banding.

Zebedeee

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Zebedeee - allgar 73's parents' house is in Scotland so it is the assessors not VOA who deal with the banding.

Ah yes, sorry. I was forgetting it is a little different in Scotland.

I guess the rest of the advice holds tho?

jopeej

I followed Martin's advice to the letter and found that my neighbours were paying a band less (D) than me for similar properties, and my property value was roughly in line with 1991 values - a moderate case.

So, queried my banding with the local valuation office who sent an officer round to inspect our home. It turns out that our home had already been rebanded from F to E without updating the banding history on the VOA website. Furthermore, the VOA had logged home improvements (a garage conversion) from details that they had received from the council's planning office in 1997 against our property to review the council tax band once it had been sold on.

Since 1997, the house has changed hands in 2003 and 2006 and twice the VOA failed to reband it - it stayed an E despite the home improvements. Then, I query my banding and lo and behold - we go from an E to and F because of the garage conversion done back 1997. In the eyes of the VOA the previous owners and us for a short while have got away with underpaying our council tax, and because I queried the band we are landed with a bill now instead of at the next national banding review.

So, a note of caution -

• if your home has changed hands recently
• and has had improvements,
• don't assume that the VOA are aware and have followed due process
• and that the banding information they have published on their website is complete and accurate.

Err on the side of caution and don't query your rate - it may bite you on the bum - we are now paying two bands higher than our neighbours!
:mad:

lincroft1710

Zebedeee - if the assessors are digging their heels in, then what you suggest is about all allgar 73's parents can do.

jopeej - I find it hard to believe that a garage conversion on its own would lead to a band increase, your home must have been at very top of Band E. If you're still within 6 months time limit, I would suggest you appeal.

jopeej

Hi lincroft1710 -

I would consider an appeal but I'm not certain on which grounds. I would contest that my home, before improvements at 1991 values, should be same as my neighbours - a D. Therefore, if I am rebanded to take the improvements into account, I would be banded E.

But, speaking to the assessor on the phone, she says they base their valuations on livable space. Some of my neighbours have slightly smaller properties but with much bigger gardens, one is detached - and banded D. I would argue that their market value would be the same if not greater than mine.

Or, do I appeal on the grounds of their failure to follow due process? After all, they sat on the information about my home and failed to reband it twice!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

Jo

lincroft1710

jopeej - go down the route of comparison of your home with neighbours', research 1991 asking prices of similar size houses in old local newspapers. The fact that VOA did not reband house after 1st sale in 2003 is not grounds for appeal.

losgiganteskid

Have been in a battle with the VOA over several months and now come to a statemate - me suggesting my banding is incorrect (having provided copious proof) and they suggesting it's in the correct band. Is there an Ombudsman or Governing body that oversees the VOA that I can contact. If not there damn well should be. Cos if we say black they can merely say white and your left up the gum tree. Perhaps a gum tree would be banded A in which case - result !! :rotfl:

lincroft1710

losgiganteskid - THE VOA IS ALWAYS CORRECT!!!!!!!!! Well, no it's not actually, but it does have access to house price and other info which general public doesn't. You can write to VOA's Customer Service Manager, their names/addresses are on VOA website. Or you could write to your MP, who will write to VOA - they love getting MPs' letters - and they will give him a detailed explanation in double quick time. There is no specific Ombudsman for VOA, they are as you will see from their letters an Executive Agency of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

I presume that you have not been able to make a valid appeal and just enquired about band. If you could give an idea of the evidence you used and why they said no (PM me if you prefer), for what it's worth I'll give you my opinion (I'm ex VOA).

HIL-N-D

HI AM NEW TO THIS AND NEED SOME HELP
MY HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 2003 AND HAVE NOTHING TO COMPARE PRICES TO. IS IT WORTH TRYING TO RE BAND??

lincroft1710

HIL-N-D -Only if you have good reason to believe it's incorrect. Is the band in line with those of similar size/type houses in the locality? If you are in England/Wales have a look at www.voa.gov.uk.