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Council Tax Cost Cutting: reduce your band and grab any discounts Discussion Area
Comments
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Hi
I've recently moved in to house "4" and was wondering if it's worth attempting a re-banding. There are 4 houses in the street which are similar to mine.
No., Sold Price, Date, Current Band, 1991 Value, Council Tax Band Relating 1991 Value
1 £238,000 Jul-07 E £80,777 D
2 £250,000 Jul-07 E £84,115 D
£250,000 Jun-12 E £94,096 E
3 £227,500 Apr-07 D £76,746 D
4 £250,000 Oct-07 E £85,081 D
£217,500 Dec-13 E £78,693 D
Note the houses were new build in 2007.
So in summary it passes one neighbour check of current banding but fails on the other four however passes the valuation check on all but one of the houses.
Appreciate your thoughts, many thanks.0 -
Hi
I've recently moved in to house "4" and was wondering if it's worth attempting a re-banding. There are 4 houses in the street which are similar to mine.
No., Sold Price, Date, Current Band, 1991 Value, Council Tax Band Relating 1991 Value
1 £238,000 Jul-07 E £80,777 D
2 £250,000 Jul-07 E £84,115 D
£250,000 Jun-12 E £94,096 E
3 £227,500 Apr-07 D £76,746 D
4 £250,000 Oct-07 E £85,081 D
£217,500 Dec-13 E £78,693 D
Note the houses were new build in 2007.
So in summary it passes one neighbour check of current banding but fails on the other four however passes the valuation check on all but one of the houses.
Appreciate your thoughts, many thanks.
Your figures demonstrate that house price indices are only approximations. I presume these houses are similar rather than identical as No. 2 sold for £32K more than yours 18 months previously.
May be worth it especially as No. 3 is a D, but there is a possibility that that band could be incorrect and could be increased.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0 -
lincroft1710 wrote: »Your figures demonstrate that house price indices are only approximations. I presume these houses are similar rather than identical as No. 2 sold for £32K more than yours 18 months previously.
May be worth it especially as No. 3 is a D, but there is a possibility that that band could be incorrect and could be increased.
Thanks @lincroft1710.
Just to clarify all these houses are identical, only difference is that House No. 2 has a conservatory.
I've contacted VOA who are going to call me before 5pm Monday.0 -
I've been helping a neighbour who has been in the wrong band since 1993. He was put in Band B along with all the other houses in our street but has just won his appeal to be put in to band A. The council sent him a letter saying that "Under the Limitation Act 1980 we are not required to keep records for longer than the current financial year plus 6 years. They sent him a cheque for £800 instead of the £3,500 he'd overpaid. Can they do this, it seems so unfair.0
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The 1980 Limitation Act can be read here
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58
I'm sorry but I don't have time to read it. HMRC require companies to keep records only for this length of time, but this entirely separate legislation and not really connected.
If he paid by direct debit and has retained his bank statements for the past 21 years, or his CT bills, then he may be able to prove what he has paid. On a reduction from Band B to A and a refund for £800 for 7 years overpayment, it's doubtful he would have received anywhere near £3,500.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0 -
I thought he was being optimistic. I'll get him to contact his bank for his payment details. That Limitation Act seems to be the time given for the Council to pursue someone for a debt.0
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The local valuation office paid me a visit the other day. I became alarmed when the person measured the external measurement of the house including the distance around the wetroom. I have read on the VOA website that they are apparently supposed to omit the disabilities build from their calculations?
They probably just measured the wetroom, so that they can show the neighbour that x% of your home is ignored for CT purposes because that area is used for the provision of disabled facilities. I wouldn't worry about it.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0 -
Hi, I'm new here and looking for some advice regarding re-banding.
We have lived for ten years in a tiny terrace cottage in a sought after village. Prices here are generally above average, but our cottage is by far the smallest in the area. It is mid terrace and much smaller than the others in the row by far, but we are in the same banding as they are.
Would it be worth out while to contact the Valuation Office to seek a re-valuation?
Also, if you move from a property are you still able to reclaim overpayment if a re-banding is done once you move out?
Many thanks.0 -
Nevillecat wrote: »It is mid terrace and much smaller than the others in the row by far, but we are in the same banding as they are.
Would it be worth out while to contact the Valuation Office to seek a re-valuation?
Also, if you move from a property are you still able to reclaim overpayment if a re-banding is done once you move out?
If the value of your home is at the bottom of the band and the value of the other cottages is at the top, then all the houses would be in the same band.
However unless you ask the VOA, you won't know if this is the case. The downside of contacting the VOA is that they may decide your band is correct, but the others are incorrect and increase them.
If you move from a property which subsequently has its band reduced, then you can claim a refund for any overpayment. There have been posts on this forum reporting that some councils only keep records for 7 years, so there is a possibility that full refunds can't always be given in all cases.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0 -
We have just moved into a new build house in South Yorkshire and have been put in to band C. Every other house on our street which range from 1 bed apartments to 3 bed houses have been put into band A.
Our house is the largest on the street, being the only 4 bed house, but it seems very harsh that one extra box bedroom can move us up 2 bands.
The valuation checker on here suggest we should be in band B all be it towards the top end and that our neighbours should also be band B all be it towards the bottom.
Is it worth appealing?0
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