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

lincroft1710

paulshouse wrote: »

My house was successfully re-banded in 1995 but I have recently received notification of an appointment to inspect. I would think it is because a neighbour failed in their attempt last year to have theirs reduced. All the houses on the estate vary slightly in design and are marginally on a band limit (from the eight that have sold since 1999 using the Nationwide price calculator, four show to be in a higher band than they should be and the other four are correct)

I appreciate I cannot get house selling prices for 1991 from the VOA but can I request the documentation from the original appeal be made available? Is it likely to have been digitised as their website claims?

If this is not disclosed/avialable can I use this as a basis for an appeal to the tribunal which would allow the VOA to disclose the 1991 selling prices they are using?

Is there anything else I should be asking the VOA to provide?

An appointment to inspect is just what it says, the VOA want to check that their records are correct in respect of your home. The person who inspects will not usually be someone who has authority to discuss the band.

Depending on whether the 1995 rebanding was done following a formal agreement with the VOA, following a letter from the taxpayer, a consequential reduction following a band reduction on a similar dwelling or following a Valuation Tribunal decision on your own home, there may in fact be little useful paperwork available.

If the Valuation Tribunal did hear the case and reduce the band, they issue the decision and they should be approached regarding disclosure of the same rather than the VOA.

But unless your band is increased, you cannot appeal and non disclosure of documentation is certainly not a basis for appeal. I would wait and see what happens following the inspection.

pennypinchUK

Just received confirmation I'll be receiving a £3200 refund for Council Tax going back 20 years - whoopie!

However, one question. As the Council has accepted they've overcharged me for 20 years, has anyone investigated whether we can claim interest on the overpaid sum? 20 years of accumulated interest, compounded, would be a very tidy sum. And they've had the benefit of having my money effectively at zero interest, so this is real cash they've had off me.

lincroft1710

CT legislation makes no mention of interest being payable on refunds so no council will pay interest.

Sponge

Sponge wrote: »

I have now seen the letter and it would appear to be very similar to the 'rejection' letters other have received. The first page is mainly an explanation of the system, using values based on the 1st April 1991, when council tax was introduced 1st April 1993, reasonable state of repair, etc. (I can scan the letter at home tonight if people think it would help them.)

The second page dismisses any and all evidence using online house price indices. It's been mentioned by others in this thread, but I now agree that using such indices is completely useless and shouldn't be 'given in evidence'. Use it only as a guide during the early stages, when you're considering an appeal.

What has confused and somewhat annoyed me, is their dismissal of similar and larger properties in my street being band A. I brought to their attention that at least 4 of the properties residing in band A are there after being dropped from band B on 1st April 1993.

His explanation of such banding differences does not, to me, work. He explains that some properties are in a higher band due to them being of a different standard in 1993, or modernised after 1993. He appears to have come at it from the wrong angle. He seems to be thinking that all the properties were band A and others are now band B as they have been improved. But it's the other way around. I showed that properties the same, or larger than mine, have been downgraded. Properties are starting in band B and dropping to A. Using his logic, they've been un-modernised. (I can't think of an appropriate word. ) What I want to know is if it worked for them, why not me? What's the difference between their 2 bedroom mid-terrace and mine? Why does their 3 bedroom, double bay property deserve to be in a lower band than my 2 bedroom, single bay house?

The letter ends with a paragraph stating I cannot appeal against his decision.

I want to write to him asking for further explanation, evidence in support of his claims on house prices in 1991 and for him to address my points on bands being dropped in 1993, but I fear it'll fall on deaf ears.

I'm tempted to approach one of those no-win, no-fee companies (I had a leaflet through my door a month or so back). I've failed, so if they have a go and have further evidence in support, and win, then something is better than nothing.

It's been a while, but I have some news on this matter.

We sold the house May 2013 and suggested to the new owners that they submit a council tax re-banding application as we still thought there was a case for it to be lowered from B to A. We told them the whole story and that we had been rejected, but it was worth a shot.

I've just learnt that the new owners application has been successful and the property is to be re-banded to an A!

So my question is, am I entitled to a refund too? Will they get in touch automatically? Or should I wait for confirmation that the re-banding has occurred and then call the VOA asking for an explanation? (Kick off.)

lincroft1710

If the band is reduced you are entitled to a refund of any overpayment of CT. The council deal with refunds, so if they have your current address, they may contact you, but you may have to wait a few weeks. Clearly if you hear nothing from the council, contact them. You can check if the band has been reduced by looking up the CT band on line.

If it were me, once I had got the refund, I would just move on and not bother asking the VOA why they have now changed their mind.

Sponge

Indeed. I've already checked the VOA website and it hasn't been changed yet. Although, I didn't really expect it to have been; it's too soon. The new owners have only just got the letter saying their request was successful. I'll wait for it to actually change and see what happens, before I do anything.

I'm interested in hearing from anyone that has received a refund for a property they no longer live in. Especially if they previously tried to get a re-banding, but failed.

Did they they learn from the new owners, as I did? Did they have to chase it up, or was it all done automatically? I don't trust the council to give out ££££ without a fight. Because I'm looking at a refund of over 12 years worth of payments. Which is nice!

pfpf

hello.
this really isn't something I am familiar with but will try and explain.

attempting a re-banding is something I had thought about earlier in the year but put it off as it was very borderline value wise.

about 2 months ago I got a letter from the VOA (out of the blue) stating they were doing some re-banding in the area and could I fill in some details on the enclosed form. I was 99% sure it was legit but didn't bother filling it in and sending it back as the suspicious side of me said it must be dodgy.

anyway, fast forward to this week and a letter from the VOA stating they had completed the re-branding and we were to be put in a band one lower than we have been paying for 12 years.

it stated old band, new band and that our local council had also been informed but to carry on paying CT as it is until we hear from the council.

so, where do we stand? is it now automatic that we will get a lower bill for this year?

is it also automatic we will get a backdated refund for 12 years worth of overpayments?

thanks in advance.

lincroft1710

pfpf wrote: »

about 2 months ago I got a letter from the VOA (out of the blue) stating they were doing some re-banding in the area and could I fill in some details on the enclosed form. I was 99% sure it was legit but didn't bother filling it in and sending it back as the suspicious side of me said it must be dodgy.

so, where do we stand? is it now automatic that we will get a lower bill for this year?

is it also automatic we will get a backdated refund for 12 years worth of overpayments?

I don't know why you thought it was "dodgy", correspondence from VOA is always on properly headed paper with originating address and contact phone no.

Your current bill will be reduced and any overpayment refunded, however some councils offset the refund against the outstanding amount on the current bill.

paulshouse

Further to my previous post. The VOA have now carried out a site visit

I received an email reply to my questions but no confirmation by post as of yet

We do not hold details from the distant past. (My request for details of the previous 1995 valuation appeal which downgraded the house to band 'F' from 'G')

Nationwide is used for indexation purposes. (How they value new properties)

No allowances for the premium placed on new properties. (as the estate was build between 1989-91)

The bands have been based on actual sales (not indexed) which we have to use when placing bands on properties. (asked for the specific properties they were using as actual sales but none provided)

After discussion with my colleague who is dealing with this (I dealt with the inspection) we will have to increase your band to Band G but an appeal form is enclosed. Please complete the form and this will then be looked at in greater detail by a caseworker. (Not really surprising as their first words on meeting prior to any measuring were 'I'm afraid we've got some bad news for you)

Assuming I eventually receive an appeal form can I request the actual sales information they are using

Is there any merit in pursuing the details of the original successful appeal

I find the last statement 'Please complete the form and this will then be looked at in greater detail by a caseworker' rather odd, should it not have been looked at in greater detail during this review? The estate is now split between band 'F' & 'G''s with a band 'G' property current on the market for under £300k which by my calculation would put it in band 'E'!

lincroft1710

You will only be allowed to see the relevant sales evidence when the appeal has been given a date for a Valuation Tribunal hearing. They are bound by an historic and now somewhat archaic agreement about disclosure of house prices.

If they say they haven't details of the original appeal (which is totally believable) there is clearly little point in pursuing the matter. Some VOAs and VOA staff were very lax in recording details of appeals.

If they increase the band now rather than do a full investigation (which they may not have time to do because of work prioritisation) they cannot be criticised by the council who may lose revenue by delaying the band increase.

The above is a statement of facts and explanation of their actions. It does not mean I necessarily agree with or support the VOA's position.