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

RRatchet

Well, a bit of news.

I've just spoken to the GJVB and subsequently lodged a Proposal. (Apparently a Proposal has to be made for statistical reasons ie so they can log/track it. They won't just do it informally). It looks very promising for a reduction to Band C with an outside chance of Band B. Although they have to use "Statutory Assumptions as to Condition" that depends on how bad a state it actually is and the property can be given a zero rating for Council Tax purposes whilst undergoing repair. I will question the inspector when (s)he comes out to inspect (hopefully soon). It might be better for us to try and have it rated say Band C and pay the 2nd home rate of 95% on our uninhabitable property until we can live in it........than........ have it given a zero rating for the time it takes to repair & then have it re-rated as a Band E/F/G when we occupy it. Which ever way it's going to cost us dear.

When we've the property re-rated then we'll tell the Council so they can clobber us for tax.

Ach weel, fit ever. They ken aboot us noo, so weel jist hae to gae we it. (this is bad Doric for those who are interested.)

lincroft1710

RRatchet - I agree that long term it could be beneficial to have a band reduction rather than Assessor decide the house is too far gone to be a dwelling, take it out of assessment then when works are completed put it back at higher band.

Cookiepops

I have been through the steps but am in an unusual situation. Basically we purchased old military married quarters. They were all sold off in the same weekend - the entire estate and all the houses are identical (due to the constructions, leasehold agreement etc. no extensions allowed etc. etc.).
The estate comprises of 2,3 and 4 bed houses and 2 bed flats.
So, aside from just my street, can I compare to the other 3 streets in the same estate? I have found 2 houses in my street that have lower bands than mine but want to strengthen. Also, I wondered if having a garage affected the band (they are all in a block so you cant tell which houses own garages and which don't).

I believe I have a strong case in this area but am not so sure on the valuation step as this points to the value in 91 for a Band B (which is what we are). But these were active military married quarters in 91 so would that discount them from this?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks

lincroft1710

Lisa - you can compare your house with others of same type/size in other streets. If a garage is away from a house and is not in nor adjoins the garden, then the value of the garage cannot be reflected in CT band.

When they were owned by MOD houses would still have been banded, but band may be lower than that of similar size/type non MOD house to reflect design/location etc.

Cookiepops

HI,

thanks for the advice. I have compared across all our estate of houses. We are a 3bd house at a Band B and virtually all of the others are the same. However, I have found 2 houses in my street and 2 in the next street that are in a different band - 2 are 4 beds and 2 are 3 beds that are Band A!

According to the valuation step we are just within the Band B price for 91 (but again these are valudations for standard homes, not these mod ones which arent brick construction, leasehold etc).

Basically we are in the right band but can me pointing out that 4 homes in my area that are in lower bands be enough to get ours lowered?

Cookiepops

sorry alos meant to ask that if I do write to my VOA office about these 4 homes in a lower band, do I just say that I have neighbours in a lower band or do I specify house tyeps and their addresses?

lincroft1710

You should specify both house type and address. But remember, it could be that their bands are wrong and VOA could increase them.

Cookiepops

thanks - Im really not sure what to do now!! Have the other people who were successful were literally a band higher than the other properties in their street? There are 4 that are lower than mine in my area, 2 of which are 2 bands lower than they should be. If my claim was unsuccessful, then I am basically snitching up my neighbours? As far as the valuation from 91 goes, we are in Band B but only just (by 1k) and I think as these are mod properties and not brick built construction, then they are probably lower in value than the general estimate.

H thinks we should go for it and the worst that would happen is we get told we are in the right band and it will stay the same.

all_greek_to_me

Having checked the neighbours' bands, its seems that we're paying what we should be. There is one house in the area, however, that's two bands below the rest of us. Until recently, it was a very small bungalow. This was demolished and replaced with a mansion. It's far bigger than our house or those of our neighbours. (Envious, moi ?) Will a council tax reassessment only kick in if and when the current owners come to sell? It doesn't seem fair that they're paying less than us when they're living in a £900k house.

lincroft1710

Lisa - what construction is your house?