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

sootylfc

Right lets see how i get on

I moved into my property in May 2011 and we was surprised at the amount we were paying. We are in Band D

Just checked - all properties in the road are B & C band - there is some smaller but alot much bigger.

We brought our property for 124k in May and next door is currently up for 159 which is bigger and that is in Band B.

I have just sent a email to the local VOA -

Will keep you updated.

Any advice moving forward?

lincroft1710

Unfortunately you are out of time to make a formal appeal by a few weeks. Band D seems too high for a £124K purchase price, but equally Band B seems too low for £159K.

The_Mothman

May I question the forum as to my position in this unusual situation?
I started renting my house in 1981. It then had the lowest rateable value possible as, I was told, its only toilet facilities were one outside toilet.
Thirty years later and I am still in the same position with the only difference being I am now in Band E. Still with just one outside toilet.
My close neighbours in the terrace, all with their fancy indoor toilets, are also in Band E.
Do I have a case for appealing my banding?

exvoperson

From what you say you clearly live in a property that has a lower value than your neighbours. How much is difficult to say as I assume if you only have an outside loo then there may be other features that are not to the same standard as your neighbours.. Band E is a wide band from £88000 to £120000 so your neighbours could be in the top of the band and you could be in the bottom. Or they could be in the bottom and you should be in band D!
Also as you have lived there for some years you are out of time to make a normal appeal. You are best writing to the VOA asking them to review your banding and give reasons why, these need to be things like the loo, and anything that makes your property of lower value compared to your neighbours, but don't mention items of disrepair. Let us know how it goes.

The_Mothman

Thanks, I shall bear that in mind if I decide to proceed.

lincroft1710

Band E seems high for a terrace property without an inside toilet.

peachymelon

:money:Thanks to taking the steps posted on the moneysavingexpert website to challenge council tax banding I have been able to reduce our banding from G to F saving £328 per year. I challenged this after moving to new property in June 2011 which suggests that the previous owners have been overpaying for many years.

A big thank you to the team for all the information you provided to help council tax payers determine the correct banding. The pro-rata 1981 valuation calculator helped me in this case considerably.

Bez3000

I'm moving into a flat next year which has a three flats in it, each with a council tax band of G. My question to the forum is whether you think I might be able to get the band reduced because the flat I will be renting is currently valued at approximately £346k* and the other two flats at around £650k (based on prices found on zoopla.co.uk)? The flat I'm moving into is in the roof-space of an old converted house.

As far as I can tell, using the Nationwide property calculator the roof flat would have been worth approximately £114k if it existed in April 1991 placing it in band E. I also think the other two flats would still stay in band G if I challenge the current banding so they shouldn't be effected.

Any thoughts or comments very appreciated.

*The property apparently sold for 380k in Q4 2007 and £325k in Q4 2006.

lincroft1710

Although Nationwide's HPC is inaccurate, you should make a formal appeal as soon as you move in. The band may only be reduced to Band F, but it's still a lot better than Band G.

Bez3000

Thanks for your comment lincroft1710. I'll certainly make an appeal when I move in and I'll keep my fingers crossed. Any reduction would be a bonus.