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

lincroft1710

bigelpresidente wrote: »

Do you think there is a chance that the VOA will entertain a late appeal?
Good advice will be much appreciated - thankyou

VOA will not "entertain" a late appeal.

What they will do is investigate the band if you give them reasons why you think it's wrong.

lincroft1710

afm wrote: »

Does anyone know how I can find out how much an extension would be worth back in 1991. Any ideas?

Thank you!

You would have to find a 1991 sale of a house of a similar size as yours, rather than try to calculate how much more yours is worth compared to an unextended house.

bigelpresidente

Thank you very much Lincroft 1710. I'm going to contact my local valuation office

poppyred

Hi, I was wondering if anyone on her could help, I work part time and my husband is a self employed builder, a couple of years ago he had a dry spell at work and we applied for CT benefit due to low income coming in, a few months later he got some work and so we signed off the benefit as per t&c. Since then he has had a couple of years with very low income (2010/2011 just £8k income) and (2011/2012 just £9k income). I earn approx £9k per year, I was wondering if we can claim CT Discount for the last two years that we didn't apply for benefit. any help would be great x

judderman

Grrr Not happy!!
Had a letter today from the VOA saying they do not intend to alter the valuation list entry.
Now all neighbouring properties share the same road cal-de-sac type, but some have a different post code.
Would this effect the outcome in any way?
If a house sold for £55k in 1995 what would the price of been in 1991? roughly.
The house directly opposite is the same as ours, no extensions or alterations visible from the outside. 2 bed 1 bathroom no downstairs loo, Their property is in band B we're in C.??
A property directly behind is the same, Their property is in band C but I cant find any sale of either properties.

cathodetube

poppyred wrote: »

Hi, I was wondering if anyone on her could help, I work part time and my husband is a self employed builder, a couple of years ago he had a dry spell at work and we applied for CT benefit due to low income coming in, a few months later he got some work and so we signed off the benefit as per t&c. Since then he has had a couple of years with very low income (2010/2011 just £8k income) and (2011/2012 just £9k income). I earn approx £9k per year, I was wondering if we can claim CT Discount for the last two years that we didn't apply for benefit. any help would be great x

This thread is about getting your council tax band lowered based on the 1991 valuations. You are talking about something different. Sounds like you need to go to a Citizens Advice Bureau or see a benefits adviser.

lincroft1710

judderman wrote: »

Now all neighbouring properties share the same road cal-de-sac type, but some have a different post code.
Would this effect the outcome in any way?

Shouldn't do

If a house sold for £55k in 1995 what would the price of been in 1991? roughly.

Depends on area and house type, but could be as much as £70K, 1995 was the low point for house prices following the 1988/9 high point.

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Baking_Mad

Hi all, really hope somebody here can help

A few months ago we moved into a little cottage on the edge of the village. It's stone built detached 2 bed

The property is in Scotland

I've done the checks on the calculator on the main page which confirmed that we have a moderate case where the banding as off 1991 is correct. I then went on the Scottish assessor page to see what bands similar properties in our village were. I've found several similar sized houses in the lower bands and more importantly quite a few much much larger properties with huge gardens in the same band as us. On that basis I submitted the request for reevaluation.

Couple of weeks later the assessor got back to me declining the alteration stating that the property is in the correct band as off 1991 valuation. With regards to the list of properties I provided they advised that these were either smaller in size, semi detached or unimproved (whatever that means) and, therefore, not compatible with our cottage. They then gave us a list of 4 properties in our area (not in our village but county as a whole) of similar size and construction which fall in the same band as ours. 2 of these 4 are in a rather affluent coastal village with the property prices to match the location and in my view simply cannot be compared to our little house in the middle of nowhere :rotfl:

2 days later another letter came in this time from the valuation appeal panel advising that we are invited to a hearing regarding the council tax appeal.

This is happening in a couple of weeks time and I'm not sure how to prepare, what documents I'd need, etc. can anyone give me any tips please. I'm rather nervous about the hearing but feel this is our last chance to get the rebate.

Any help is much appreciated

Unclefoobar

We recently moved into a 1960's bungalow which has had its band increased from D to E since we moved. The Bungalow was extended in 1985 but no improvements since 1991. After an inspection by the VOA they stand by their decision saying the previous owners were 'lucky'. The bungalow is down a lane shared only by our neighbour although we are surrounded by other properties. Our neighbours bungalow is larger than ours but their band is D.

Ran a check through the Nationwide price index using our purchase price and it gives a band D.

My two questions are:

How can the banding be increased even the though the property has not been extended/modified since the 1991 valuation?

If we use our neighbours bungalow as an example, could their property see an increase in the banding whilst they are still living there?

Any advice gratefully accepted.

lincroft1710

Unclefoobar wrote: »

My two questions are:

How can the banding be increased even the though the property has not been extended/modified since the 1991 valuation?

If we use our neighbours bungalow as an example, could their property see an increase in the banding whilst they are still living there?

Any advice gratefully accepted.

CT law allows the band of a dwelling to be increased or decreased at any time if the original band is considered to be incorrect.

So your neighbour's bungalow could have its band increased just as yours was.