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

lincroft1710

Ped - your reasons for challenging your band are perfectly acceptable BUT there is a possibility that your band is correct and your neighbour's is the incorrect one which may result in his band being increased.

lincroft1710

Louise - as you no longer live there only your ex can ask for a lower CT band. Ex no doubt is now receiving 25% single person discount, so CT bill probably in his sole name.

Are you happy to ask him to apply for reduction?

lincroft1710

21Twinkle - what exactly did you say in your email? If you made an on line appeal then this would automatically be rejected as it is out of time.

ped2608

Lincroft the neighbours are in their 80's do they pay council tax ?

lincroft1710

Ped - yes, there's no age discrimination in paying CT unless you're under 18 and therefore don't pay.

Wee_Amy

I moved into my flat 12 months ago. I never knew I could reclaim or challenge my council tax band until I stumbled across this website. Then I went to the Scottish Assessors Accociation website and discovered that my neighbours who are in identical flats are in a lower council tax band.

I tried to challenge my council tax band but was told my claim was invalid as I'd been in the proprty for over 6 months...blah blah. So I wrote back saying they had a legal responsibility to ensure my property was in the correct banding.

Now I have a letter saying they believe my claim is still invalid but have passed it to the Secretary of the Local Valuation Panel and apparently there is going to be some kind of hearing where I can plead my case.

Has anyone else on the forum been to one of these hearings before? I'd like to know what to expect so I can be prepared and hopefully put across a strong case for lowering my council tax band.

Any help or hints would be greatly appreciated.

lincroft1710

Amy - tribunal hearing will only consider whether your appeal is valid or not, they will not look at banding issues. As your appeal was clearly submitted outside 6 month time limit, tribunal will have little option other than to say it is not valid. Assessor will no doubt investigate your band after tribunal decision is known.

ped2608

That's great!! now I have to struggle with my conscience as well as worry about how much we're paying. Is a reassessment of their property automatic on the basis of my claim and if it was would they attribute the assessment to me or just tell them they are being rebanded?, also if I am to persue this what sort of wording should I use to support my claim if it is not going to be "next door is the same size and I didn't know I could get it reassessed"?

Many thanks

50Twuncle

lincroft1710 wrote: »

21Twinkle - what exactly did you say in your email? If you made an on line appeal then this would automatically be rejected as it is out of time.

I simply asked for my banding to be reassessed - and was rejected on grounds of being over 6 months...

But according to the start of the thread :
Been in the property longer than six months?

Many people get told they can't appeal, as they've been in the property more than six months. If this happens to you, don't worry, its common and there's a way round it.

That rule is simply a standard procedure, yet more importantly the Local Listings Office has a legal duty to ensure all properties bands are correct, and that means, if pushed it should investigate your representations and alter the Valuation List if it believes it's required. This also applies if your re-valuation reason isn't on the official list (explained at the bottom of this VOA page).
Therefore if you get told you can't appeal, write a letter politely explaining, "I am writing to tell you I believe the council tax banding list of my property is incorrect, my house is in the wrong band, and I ask that you investigate that it is corrected." This has and does work, though can need some perserverence. See the council tax successes thread for details of many people who've pushed through this.

lincroft1710

21Twinkle - I'm not at all happy with the response given by VOA, it is the automatic response to an appeal made out of time (which is why I asked the question).

They should have said they will look into banding and let you know. What you have quoted in your last post is correct. I would phone them and ask to speak to caseworker who deals with CT appeals for your area and explain you have written asking for band to be checked and could they please do this as per their statutory obligation to ensure all bands are correct. I presume you gave reasons why you believe your band is incorrect in your email.