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

Hazelr

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Mary Ta - the VOA can only increase a band on account of alterations or extensions if these were carried out by a previous owner or prior to Apr 1993 and are not reflected in the current band.

The 600 sq m house probably should be in Band H!

Could I ask a follow-up question to this? We have just moved into a house which is rated Band D, and have had a letter from the VOA saying "A previous owner made alterations to your home: we must include the additional value of those alterations in the band following your purchase."

We knew that the previous owner (who had lived in the house since the 1980s) had added a loft conversion and a small single-storey rear extension. However, we also knew from documentation that those alterations were carried out in the 1980s.

If the alterations were carried out prior to 1991, shouldn't the 1st April 1991 banding of the house have reflected them already? Is there any point in our pointing this out to the VOA, or can they just argue that the 1991 banding must have been a drive-by banding (in which case the previous vendor has just been very fortunate to have been underpaying ever since council tax was introduced...) and reband the house anyway?

Would be interested to hear your view!

lincroft1710

Hazelr wrote: »

Would be interested to hear your view!

The VOA's records should show whether or not these alterations were picked up in the 1980s, As the old domestic rating system was coming to an end in March 1990, in 1989 the VOA often didn't bother carrying out inspections of alterations, so these alterations may not have been inspected and the banding based on out of date info.

However, it is very unusual for pre 1993 alterations to be logged on the system and it may be that there is a further minor alteration was carried out after this date. A further thought is that these alterations were not picked up in the 1980s and the VOA have now found out about them from a neighbour comparing CT bands.

Hazelr

Thanks for that. So if the alterations *were* all pre-1993 but the VOA have only just picked up on them, can they reband the property now on the basis of them, even though they should in theory have known about them at the original banding?

And if they do get back in touch to say they are changing our house's band, will they have to specify what the "alterations" are they are talking about?

lincroft1710

Hazelr wrote: »

Thanks for that. So if the alterations *were* all pre-1993 but the VOA have only just picked up on them, can they reband the property now on the basis of them, even though they should in theory have known about them at the original banding?

And if they do get back in touch to say they are changing our house's band, will they have to specify what the "alterations" are they are talking about?

The VOA can alter a CT band at any time if they believe it is incorrect. They will not specify what the alterations are which led to the band increase.

Hazelr

Sigh :-( That's rather what I suspected, but thanks for confirming...

MindyMoo33

hi I am just wondering if anyone can advise me on my situation with regards to my council tax band
basically I live in a new build property which was built 1999/2000 it is a 2 up 2 down house there is only 6 of these houses on the estate. my next door neighbour lives in a 3 bedroom detached house and the council tax band is C like mine - does this seem right?
I know there are very similar properties 2 miles up the road to mine and ive checked there banding is B .


any advice etc on my next step or if I even have a case to argue


thanks

lincroft1710

MindyMoo33 wrote: »

any advice etc on my next step or if I even have a case to argue

It's possible for your home to be at the bottom of Band C, and the 3 bed at the top. Likewise the 2 bed 2 miles could be at the top of Band B and there may be a price difference between the two areas which would affect the bands.

If you moved into your home less than 6 months ago you can appeal the banding, if over 6 months you can ask for a band review. Even if you don't get a band reduction, you will know your band is correct.

Wabcjb

I hope someone can advise me I challenged my council tax band and received a letter saying it is now reduced from band G to band F so happy days. I have contacted them today to find out when I will receive my overpayments / refund for the 20 years we have lived at our property and they tell me they have only gone back to April 2013! This can't be right??
Has anyone else had this and how can I challenge it???

lincroft1710

Wabcjb wrote: »

they tell me they have only gone back to April 2013! This can't be right??
Has anyone else had this and how can I challenge it???

Is the effective date for Band F, 1 Apr 2013?

If so contact the VOA and ask them why the effective date is not 1 Apr 1993,

If the effective date is 1 Apr 1993, then contact your council.

Wabcjb

Thank you for your reply. I called the voa today and it was a clerical error and the effective date should have been 1993 and not 2013! They are going to notify my council and apparently don't have any involvement with the money side of things so I hope my council do reimburse me with no argument as I would imagine it would be quite a sizeable refund thank you again for taking the time to advise me.