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

lincroft1710

crysys wrote: »

I bought my house in September 2011. I never considered the unfairness of my council tax until I started looking at house prices in the street which led me to the council tax valuations within it. I have been shocked to see that many larger, more opulent houses are either in the same or lower tax bracket. The difficulty for me arises in the fact that no two house are the same. Although my house is detached, it is relatively small, with only 2 bedrooms. A small ground floor extension was completed in the 1960s. It is on a corner plot which makes the property look much larger than it is. Checking current house prices allows me to compare with similarly valued homes, most semi-detached with 3/4 bedrooms, but none like mine or in my higher tax bracket. It is a bit of an anomaly. I know I am out of time to challenge this as a new owner, so I would appreciate some guidance as how to proceed.

The best comparison is with houses as near as possible in size, type and style. So look around the neighbourhood for small detached houses, as these will be what your house will have been compared with, not semis or terraced in the same street.

Another thing is that some house types have increased in value more than others since 1991, some will have been extended or substantially improved by current owners, all of which will affect any current price comparisons.

saphire02004

I live in a rented council property with 10 houses in the street the street is a cul de sac. I thought I would do a basic check and was surprised to see 8 out of the 10 houses are band A and myself and another house are a band B the houses are all exactly the same with 3 bedroom. no improvements have been made to the house no extentions have been done.. do you think I will have a good case to apply to re banded to Band A. I have lived in the same house since 1993. many thanks any comments would be appreciated..

lincroft1710

saphire02004 wrote: »

do you think I will have a good case to apply to re banded to Band A. I have lived in the same house since 1993. many thanks any comments would be appreciated..

If the houses are all exactly the same,e.g. they are all semi-detached, then the probability is they all should be the same band. Which may be Band A or may be Band B. If there is an effective date against the Band A houses, then this suggests they have been reduced and Band A would be the correct band.

saphire02004

lincroft1710 wrote: »

If the houses are all exactly the same,e.g. they are all semi-detached, then the probability is they all should be the same band. Which may be Band A or may be Band B. If there is an effective date against the Band A houses, then this suggests they have been reduced and Band A would be the correct band.

8 are terraced 2 are semi. the one I live in is a semi but inside they are the same size and the same layout. I have been told to get the 1991 price for the same semi detached house in the same area but don't know what site to look at any help would be appreciated

lincroft1710

saphire02004 wrote: »

8 are terraced 2 are semi. the one I live in is a semi but inside they are the same size and the same layout. I have been told to get the 1991 price for the same semi detached house in the same area but don't know what site to look at any help would be appreciated

That would probably explain the difference in banding, a semi will be worth more than a terrace of the same size and layout. If you can find other similar size council built 3 bed semis in Band A, that would be helpful.

The only way to get an idea of 1991 prices is to search archived property ads in local papers, but thy will only be asking prices and it's doubtful if there would have been many ex council houses on the market.

hugo89

Really its an interesting articles , Thank you sir

i_want_one_of_those_mum

Just had a discussion with my sister and found her house is in band B and my house is in band C.

We moved in November 1997. It's 2 bedroom with an extension and downstairs bathroom (council conversion before we moved in). Now next door have loft conversion (now 4 bed) with extension. Over the road has had a loft conversion (now 3 bed) and round the corner 2 bed house with full width extension with garage. All these houses are in band B.

Should I challenge this with VOA? Any suggestions. Many thanks.

lincroft1710

i_want_one_of_those_mum wrote: »

Just had a discussion with my sister and found her house is in band B and my house is in band C.

We moved in November 1997. It's 2 bedroom with an extension and downstairs bathroom (council conversion before we moved in). Now next door have loft conversion (now 4 bed) with extension. Over the road has had a loft conversion (now 3 bed) and round the corner 2 bed house with full width extension with garage. All these houses are in band B.

Should I challenge this with VOA? Any suggestions. Many thanks.

If the extensions to the other houses were carried out by the current owners and after 1 Apr 1993, their bands can't be increased. It's worth asking VOA to check your band, but if neighbours' extensions are by previous owners or pre 1 Apr 1993, their bands could increase.

i_want_one_of_those_mum

Thanks for the info. So if the house over the road has had a full loft conversion 4 years ago but remains in band B when sold in 2010 VOA may drop my band but could increase theirs?

lincroft1710

i_want_one_of_those_mum wrote: »

Thanks for the info. So if the house over the road has had a full loft conversion 4 years ago but remains in band B when sold in 2010 VOA may drop my band but could increase theirs?

Yes, they can reduce yours, not reduce yours and increase theirs.