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

smerch1468

lincroft1710 wrote: »

As you have already agreed a reduction to Band E, the VOA would undoubtedly say that your band was fully investigated and agreed with you and no further action should be taken.

What 1991 price do you get if you put your 2002 purchase price into the calculator?

Given the width of Band E, it's not impossible for both your and your mother's houses both to be in Band E. Further her house may be in too lower a band and also different house types and different areas have not always increased in value by the same percentage.

It is up to you, but I don't think you will have much success.

Its slightly complicated with the purchase price. We paid a total of £200,000 which included a £15,000 cashback payment from the builder. Now do we use £200,000 or £185,000?

After putting the sold price of a house in my mums road that sold for £390,000 last month, the calculator comes up with band F, she is band E! Perhaps I should remain quiet about this !

Thanks

lincroft1710

smerch1468 wrote: »

Its slightly complicated with the purchase price. We paid a total of £200,000 which included a £15,000 cashback payment from the builder. Now do we use £200,000 or £185,000?

After putting the sold price of a house in my mums road that sold for £390,000 last month, the calculator comes up with band F, she is band E! Perhaps I should remain quiet about this !

Thanks

Use both prices, just to see if lower one or both show Band D. Remember that "official" documentation will only show £200K, which is price VOA will have. Definitely "keep mum" about mum's place!

antonio1

Can anyone pls offer any views on this: the VOA confirmed my banding as correct based on 1991 sales data. I explained by phone most (90%) of about 100 properties in my street and surrounding ones were band B from the VOA website, my house was C. The Nationwide house price indicator puts mine well within B but its relevance was rejected given they use (unspecified) 1991 actual sales data (fair enough if I knew what properties or types they were referring to). My house was previously sold in the early 1980s (at a band B rate) so I don't believe they could have used my house sale data. The letter was a standard one and being without specific details, it leaves me none the wiser whether the decision is correct. There's no basis for appeal but I understand if I provide written specific points and evidence they may respond.

Does anyone know how the VOA classify and distinguish houses within a street so as to attribute a 1991 valuation? Or put another way, how in 1991 they did so? Do they know (and if so how) how many rooms or in what condition a property was in 1991 if these are what is being taken into account? I don't believe any valuation visit was made in 1991. On my street all the houses are similar sized in terms of overall dimensions/area, some being two bed, some three but the banding results don't seem to relate to number of rooms.

Is it relevant my house still needs lots of improvements doing and minor repair plus cavity wall, loft insulation and is generally poorly insulated (issues that I know from the previous owner were the case in 1991).

Many thanks.

lincroft1710

antonio1 wrote: »

Does anyone know how the VOA classify and distinguish houses within a street so as to attribute a 1991 valuation? Or put another way, how in 1991 they did so? Do they know (and if so how) how many rooms or in what condition a property was in 1991 if these are what is being taken into account? I don't believe any valuation visit was made in 1991. On my street all the houses are similar sized in terms of overall dimensions/area, some being two bed, some three but the banding results don't seem to relate to number of rooms.

Is it relevant my house still needs lots of improvements doing and minor repair plus cavity wall, loft insulation and is generally poorly insulated (issues that I know from the previous owner were the case in 1991).

Many thanks.

I'm ex VOA.

During its 60 years existence the VOA has surveyed virtually every property in Eng and Wales and will therefore be aware of each property's age, type size and accom. VOA also has sales details going back to the 1960s of virtually every property.

They compare properties of a similar locality, type, age and size to those which sold during 1991. Whether it is 2 or 3 beds tends to be of secondary consideration.

CT valuations have to assume a reasonable state of repair whether this is the case or not. Some regard maybe had to a lack of modernisation, but bear in mind we are looking at standards of 20 years ago. Loft and cavity wall insulation (or lack of) would have little effect on 1991 prices.

Finally none of the house price index calculators are accurate.

antonio1

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I'm ex VOA.

During its 60 years existence the VOA has surveyed virtually every property in Eng and Wales and will therefore be aware of each property's age, type size and accom. VOA also has sales details going back to the 1960s of virtually every property.

They compare properties of a similar locality, type, age and size to those which sold during 1991. Whether it is 2 or 3 beds tends to be of secondary consideration.

CT valuations have to assume a reasonable state of repair whether this is the case or not. Some regard maybe had to a lack of modernisation, but bear in mind we are looking at standards of 20 years ago. Loft and cavity wall insulation (or lack of) would have little effect on 1991 prices.

Finally none of the house price index calculators are accurate.

Very useful thanks. I'll write in and query the intra-street differentials asking for their reasons. Take your point on reasonable state of repair which I see in fact they explain on their website. Interesting that lack of modernisation can be taken into account whereas disrepair can't....

eharvey4

I am interested in applying to have my council tax band regraded, but my council website says you only can if certain very restrictive categories apply, for example if you only moved in 6 months ago, or if your house has been modified in some way. I don't understand how this fits with the advice on this site that you can have a wrong banding challenged and backdated to 1993. Any advice much appreciated.

lincroft1710

eharvey4 wrote: »

I am interested in applying to have my council tax band regraded, but my council website says you only can if certain very restrictive categories apply, for example if you only moved in 6 months ago, or if your house has been modified in some way. I don't understand how this fits with the advice on this site that you can have a wrong banding challenged and backdated to 1993. Any advice much appreciated.

You can ask for a CT band review at any time, but if it is refused you have no right of appeal. Only if you appealed within 6 months of becoming occupier would you have the right of appeal to an independent Tribunal.

eharvey4

Thanks for this. I am giving it a go.

qiqilam

I have been through moneysavingexpert's website where i compared my property to other properties in the same band E and one band below in D. (my house is about 2/3 the size of other houses in the same band E). I also entered the sale price of the house (from searching on internet)in 2000 into the 1991 prices which fell comfrtably into D. The valuation office has rejected my first proposal to reduce the band saying the houses in D are smaller and the price compared to 1991 is in E! i disagree on both fronts. Anyone with experience to share? There is an opportunity to contest this I am not sure if it is worth going forward.

markbart

Martin

Great advice on reclaiming my overpaid council tax for the last 17 years - thank you.

I have been told today that my property is to be down banded to Band B from Band C and the Council are working on the refund for the last 17 years.

Does anyone know if the Council will pay interest on the refund amount due as money 17 years ago was worth allot more than it would be today? I am getting conflicting answers from neighbours / friends.

Thanks again.