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

lincroft1710

loobie wrote: »

So, by rights, we should be in Band A (Properties up to and including £40,000).[/SIZE][/FONT]

Is this right?

Not necessarily.

The Nationwide HPI is a guide only and is not definitive. It covers too large an area to be 100% accurate and when compared with actual 1991 sale prices, does tend to undervalue.

It is still worth you asking the VOA for a band review.

sgrayson1

Hi,


I have been a student since September last year and have been over paying on my council tax. Does anyone know if I will be able to get this money back or is it just a case of my own fault as I wasn't aware?
Thanks

lincroft1710

sgrayson1 wrote: »

Hi,


I have been a student since September last year and have been over paying on my council tax. Does anyone know if I will be able to get this money back or is it just a case of my own fault as I wasn't aware?
Thanks

I'm not sure, but I believe they would refund if you have overpaid. If you can prove overpayment, just ask if they will refund it.

cannonballdaze

HI, I live in 2 bedroomed detached house - Band D. Purchased for £53,600 in May 1993.

The houses across the street are 3 and 4 bedroomed - the 4 bedrooms are extensions over their garages. They are also Band D.

Is there anything I can do to lower mine or do I have to wait for someone to move ?

Any help appreciated.

Cheers - Joe

lincroft1710

cannonballdaze wrote: »

Is there anything I can do to lower mine or do I have to wait for someone to move ?

Any help appreciated.

You can ask the VOA to investigate your band, they will need some evidence your band is wrong, though.

zipdip

I agree with the article but council tax has a weird place in peoples thoughts,in 1991 my late step father had just bought a retirement flat,the property market had been poor for about two years,and he managed to buy the new flat for considerably less than people who had bought two years prievious he had challenge the banding because his sale had gone through just two days before the banding date,he died so I attended a meeting of the residents of those flats,with a letter to appear at the local council and with a very good chance to reduce the band from C to B, a big saving for retired people,but having explained this to the meeting,more than one person got up and said but we are band C we are not band B,they seemed to think it downgraded their flats,so I tore the letter up and they have paid the extra costs since 1991 ,you cannot help some people.

Lawts1234

Council - Warrington Cheshire
Band - D


March 2013 I sent a letter explaining my neighbours were on band c and they have a larger property then myself, Jan 2014 went to tribunal - Which has been dismissed and i have lost my case - At tribunal i explained other propertys same size as myself pay less them me. There explaintion was once them houses have been sold they will then go up to my band (d)... So basiclly i have to pay more than everyone else because there house hasnt been sold yet which i find very un-fair. Case dismissed and i dont think now i can do anything else about it?... Any advise would be appricated

lincroft1710

Lawts1234 wrote: »

- At tribunal i explained other propertys same size as myself pay less them me. There explaintion was once them houses have been sold they will then go up to my band (d)... So basiclly i have to pay more than everyone else because there house hasnt been sold yet which i find very un-fair. Case dismissed and i dont think now i can do anything else about it?... Any advise would be appricated

If the neighbours' houses have been extended by the current owners after 1 Apr 1993, then what you were told is correct. CT legislation allows owners of dwellings to extend and/or improve them without an increase in the CT band. When the dwelling is sold, the band can be increased.

There is nothing you can do in such circumstances.

smilee2106

Hi all, here's an interesting one for you. My partner bought his terraced house in Sept 2004 at 112K, valuation in Nov/Dec 2013 for remortgage is 90K but if you go to the Nationwide site (who the mortgage is currently with btw) it says the value is something like 139K!! Lol, NO chance! The house next door, extra w/c downstairs and decking - we have 1 bathroom only and a conservatory - 3 brs each, kitchen, dining room and living room each also. Now next door was purchased in 08 or 09 for 44,6k (ex council). So, using MSE guidelines on checking this, next door should've been an A but is the same as us at a C along with the other 4 properties in this terrace! To say I'm confused is an understatement! Any suggestions??

lincroft1710

smilee2106 wrote: »

Hi all, here's an interesting one for you. My partner bought his terraced house in Sept 2004 at 112K, valuation in Nov/Dec 2013 for remortgage is 90K but if you go to the Nationwide site (who the mortgage is currently with btw) it says the value is something like 139K!! Lol, NO chance! The house next door, extra w/c downstairs and decking - we have 1 bathroom only and a conservatory - 3 brs each, kitchen, dining room and living room each also. Now next door was purchased in 08 or 09 for 44,6k (ex council). So, using MSE guidelines on checking this, next door should've been an A but is the same as us at a C along with the other 4 properties in this terrace! To say I'm confused is an understatement! Any suggestions??

The neighbour clearly had a RTB discount, so his purchase price is of no use as it is not open market value. Decking is unlikely to add anything to the value. Extra WC is unlikely to be band significant.

Can't help you with the two completely different valuations. Ask NW to explain this, I'd love to know their reasoning, unless the 90K is what they would lend rather than the value.