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

lincroft1710

Comparing newbuild with newbuild or recently built is the correct approach. I don't know how prices in Lambeth compare with those in Southwark and whether one has increased more in percentage terms from 1991 to 2014/5, so I can't comment on the fairness or relevance of the LO's choice. I am aware that X Street can be worth say 10% more than Y Street next door.

My advice would be to do some legwork, either literally or via Googlemaps and see if you can find other newbuilds within say a 1 mile radius. Once you have have identified the address it is easy to find the band.

I think the LO's case is based more on conjecture than actual sales evidence - not wrong in itself, but it could mean that the Tribunal is forced to decide based on who presents the best case.

drunkenengineer

Hi gang. First time on and haven't read the entire thread. I have lived in my house for 15 years. Can't find a tick box on the VOA form for this amount of time in residence. Everything centres around the 6 month limit. Any pointers on which box I tick in Part B? I'm a band D but the search shows I "should" be a C.
Any advice gratefully accepted.
DE

lincroft1710

drunkenengineer wrote: »

I have lived in my house for 15 years......Everything centres around the 6 month limit.

As you have been the CT payer for over 6 months you cannot appeal the band. You can only ask the VOA to investigate your band.

now3d

OA question.
When making a VOA appeal, should I use the ex-council price paid? Or also include the discount (to give an effective market value) ?

28 Apr, 1992 for 20,000
Discount, 48,000
meaning value was 68,000

That is Band "C" then..

However, would be Band "A" if only the amount paid was considered.

Any comments?
Thanks for any help!

lincroft1710

now3d wrote: »

OA question.
When making a VOA appeal, should I use the ex-council price paid? Or also include the discount (to give an effective market value) ?

28 Apr, 1992 for 20,000
Discount, 48,000
meaning value was 68,000

That is Band "C" then..

However, would be Band "A" if only the amount paid was considered.

Any comments?
Thanks for any help!

Council tax is based on market value, so it would be £68,000. However firstly council house right to buy valuations have to exclude certain elements, so may not reflect true market value and secondly in most areas, 1992 values were lower than 1991.

now3d

Thank you.

I have another ex-council from 1988, identical flat, same block.

22,000 in 1988 (32,000 discount) meaning the value was 54,000

I think this should be enough to get it changed to band "C"

lincroft1710

1992 is nearer to 1991 than 1988, so 1992 valuation is more relevant. What band is this second flat?

Valuations for RTB do not carry as much weight as actual sales as near as possible to 1 Apr 1991, which are the best evidence.

now3d

lincroft1710 wrote: »

1992 is nearer to 1991 than 1988, so 1992 valuation is more relevant. What band is this second flat?

Valuations for RTB do not carry as much weight as actual sales as near as possible to 1 Apr 1991, which are the best evidence.

Second flat is also currently band "D". Second flat was RTB in 1988

I've written a letter to VOA now, because all their 5 comparisons were period private blocks! They didn't include a single ex-council.

As First flat was RTB in 1992 at 68,000 that means it would be less in 1991.. which helps the case IMHO.
Regards
richy

lincroft1710

now3d wrote: »

As First flat was RTB in 1992 at 68,000 that means it would be less in 1991.. which helps the case IMHO.
Regards
richy

No!!

In most areas 1992 prices were lower than 1991. And I will re-iterate that RTB values are not the same as open market values which is what CT is based on. Can you find other council built blocks nearby which have similar size flats to yours in Band C.

now3d

lincroft1710 wrote: »

No!!

In most areas 1992 prices were lower than 1991. And I will re-iterate that RTB values are not the same as open market values which is what CT is based on. Can you find other council built blocks nearby which have similar size flats to yours in Band C.

Ok, yes, there are 14 others in same block with are "B" and "C".. I'll knock and see if I can find them being the same layout, I imagine they are identical. Because the two I did check are identical. there are 38 in the block. Amazing that the valuations are so different "B", "C" and "D"