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

misters_2

misters wrote:

Is this just for ppl who have purchased there house or can council tennant claim bk as well?

Also what about ppl who have moved on from there las house to a new house, how would they check.

One more thing what about ppl tht purchased there house after 1993 under the ryt to buy scheme.

Any help on this plz?

AndieJagain

is there any deduction/rebate for the property being partially unocupied?

the question was raised by a colleague recently, I work away a lot, staying out 2-4 nights each week, leaving my property unnocupied (though furnished), is there a way that I can claim anything back? if so, how many days a year do I need to be away?!.

Altarf

BargainMad wrote:

I know it is a long shot but is there a database that shows historical council tax rates for different councils since 1993 ?

I am sure the difference between bands was relatively small in 1993 and yet has got ever bigger in the last 14 years.

The 'price difference' between the bands is a fixed ratio.

A 6/9 67%
B 7/9 78%
C 8/9 89%
D 9/9 100%
E 11/9 122%
F 13/9 144%
G 15/9 167%
H 18/9 200%

So if the council tax is £1000, than A pays 67% of £1000 and H pays 200% of £1000.

In 1993 the council tax was a *lot* less than it is now, so although the percentage difference was the same, the monetary difference was smaller.

SteveUK_3

misters wrote:

Any help on this plz?

You can appeal on a property you pay the Council Tax bill for so Council Tenants can appeal also - however most Council properties have lower values and lower bands than comparable privately built dwellings so the chance they are in a higher band is remote.

You can check on previous properties you have occupied/wned but can no longer appeal against the banding as you are no longer connected to the property.

Purchasing the house on a Right to buy scheme doesnt affect your right to appeal but i wouldnt use the purchase price as evidence as they are often way below the market value

SteveUK_3

AndieJagain wrote:

is there any deduction/rebate for the property being partially unocupied?

the question was raised by a colleague recently, I work away a lot, staying out 2-4 nights each week, leaving my property unnocupied (though furnished), is there a way that I can claim anything back? if so, how many days a year do I need to be away?!.

Im afraid not, it is still your main/permanent residence. There is a reduction if you are the sole occupier of the property of 25% i believe though

peter999

Can anyone get into Valuation Office website (https://www.voa.gov.uk) ??

Still seems overloaded after yesterday's Tonight program special.
Martin certainly knows how to increase traffic to someone's website !!
.

mackemprincess

It's now working hitty missy for me although only just as the rest of you been saying busy until now!

Now that I've managed to look at mine I think our banding is correct, there is 10 other houses in my street which are in a lower banding but I think this maybe because they are ex council houses - could someone please confirm....and I'm guessing therefore I have no right to appeal.

SteveUK_3

mackemprincess wrote:

It's now working hitty missy for me although only just as the rest of you been saying busy until now!

Now that I've managed to look at mine I think our banding is correct, there is 10 other houses in my street which are in a lower banding but I think this maybe because they are ex council houses - could someone please confirm....and I'm guessing therefore I have no right to appeal.

if you have been in the property for less than 6 months you still have a right to appeal, if over 6 months you can still request someone to review your banding which im sure they would be happy to do. Regards the other properties in your street just ask yourself would i pay as much for them as i would for the house i live in ?

Please note when looking at website (one thing i spotted on there yesterday after the program) some of the properties have little 'i's next to them - this means that they have had alterations which may affect the banding but havent been taken into account because the property hasnt been sold, this means the banding may be lower on a property that appears similiar to yours

mumbles2

I have been trying for several days to get access to VOA web site without success are others having same problem?

tonyososki

I'm still getting nothing from VOA. I cannot believe it's been constantly too busy since the programme was aired.