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

Jotts

tattyted wrote:

Wow i have been reading these threads and are so pleased for everyone whos managed to get there banding reduced.I watched Martin on tv the other night and was amazed by what i saw so am wondering if i can try and be rebanded.My house is a ex council house and in 1999 it was valued by the council for 56,000 so with my tennat discount i payed 38,000,i have looked at the website and it looks like all the similar houses are a band D the same as me but it shows 4 doors down made a appeal in 1993 and where it says court it just says C what does this mean?a property sold for 58,000 in september 2000 so i put that into the nationwide calculator and it came up with a figure of 39,714 in 1991 surely that cant be right if im in band D,a house also sold for 84,950 in 2001 so in 1991 that would have made the value 53,712,is it worth me appealing,i did start a appeal process a few years ago but when they mention tribunals i got abit worried and didn't do anymore about it,i live with my 18 year old son and twins and really struggle to pay the council tax,any help from anyone would really be appreciated,thank you

Hi Firstly Ignore Council valuations and the amount you paid for the Ex Council House. The Valuation Office only look at TRUE SALES. i.e what the property would actually have sold for. To get this they look at identical property that actuallt sold.

You don't say but I'm guessing you live in Wales.

Wales had a revaluation in 2005 which means they changed the valuation date to 1st April 2003. So they are looking at what your house was worth in 2003 and not 1991.

A Band D is for values of £91k to £123k.

As you mentioned a house also sold for 84,950 in 2001 I would assume that due to an increase in the house market by 2003 the property would be worth in excess of £91k so I would assume this band D is correct for the 2005 Revaluation.

The Nationwide Calculator is a guide and isn't always correct so don't take the figures as FACT use them as a guide.

You say you made an appeal in 1993. Did you get your band reduced or did it stay the same. And what band was it? Was it Band C?

When you make an appeal the Valuation Office look at your band. If they think its too high or low they will reduce it.

If they believe it to be correct then they will advise you.

If you disagree with their findings that is when you can take it to a tribunal who will then decide who is right.

The Valuation or the Council Taxpayer. Don't be afraid.

Do your homework and get all your facts ready. Then speak to the Valuation Office.

ThriftyNifty

Borough Council: Sedgemoor (Somerset)
Banding before F
Banding after E
Rebate (from Dec 99 when the house was built) £1,683
Ongoing saving around £250 a year


Hi all this is my first posting so I hope it comes out OK…

I have to say understanding the fine art of placing a ‘thread’ and logging onto this page was by far in a way more difficult than getting a review and subsequent rebate from our Council

After being inspired by Martins original suggestion that there could be some major errors in the system we followed the instruction to the letter and did some homework on the value today, and the value in 1991 and were even able to check this further by cross checking what we had paid for the house when built new in 1999. To be belt and braces we then looked at similar properties in the district of similar and greater value via estate agents and noted that many of these were in a lower band despite being on the market for more than our house is worth. :mad:

A quick call to the valuation officer at the district office, which was quick and pleasant process where they asked a few basics, on size etc and why we thought ours, was over-banded. They said that they would most likely need to arrange for a meeting ‘on site’ (technical term I guess!) took some details and we heard no more (this was about 6 weeks ago). Yesterday a letter came explaining that they had indeed reviewed the property and agreed that the band was wrong and noted that a rebate of £1,683 would be in the mail…… next day cheque arrived as premised. :rotfl:

Perhaps we were lucky but the process was simplicity itself… I agree wholeheartedly with Martin though that a robust investigation yourself will prevent requesting a re-banding only to get it upgraded instead of down. We had all the evidence printed out and ready to go before we launched into it and in the end needed nothing but a reasoned phone call. :j

Martin you are a star, without doubt a blinder for delivering some recompense to the over taxed in this country. :T

Right now we have a taste for it look out the utility Companies we are on the warpath!!
:T

Bob_Roberts

rizla01 wrote:

Hi Bob Roberts,

So, to take your point to task, you are suggesting that the local Govermnent funding should be propped up by errors that they themselves have made in assessing what tax we should all be paying on our homes based on the fact that they got it right most of the time.

You also point out that it'll be the higher echelons of society that will benifit most from the realisation of this error.

Does it not occur to you that far more of the 'better off' in our society, probably have access to this knowledge than the mere band Cs & Ds that make up the majority of homeowners in this country and that they already have taken issue with the VOA and are enjoying a fair taxation on their properties.

Is this information that should be withheld from the less educated and by definition, the less well off?

And if so, for what purpose? In fear of 'reprisals' by the Government? Because they will charge us all, even more tax?

Any individuals claim will be so watered down around the country that I don't think that most of us have anything to fear. Look at the millions paid by the lottery each month and yet that only costs a percentage of the country the odd pound or so, yet will benifit the individual considerably and, what is more, they will paying what is FAIR.

Perhaps you feel that the Goverment are correct in charging anyone whatever suits them for every service that they provide and that we should, like lambs to the slaughter, go along with these charges for fear of similar reprisals.

Nah, I don't think so.

It's the apathetic in any country that will bring about the fall of that country.

It is right to stand up for your rights!

Thanks – I’m not at all suggesting that Government funding should be propped up by errors. What I am saying is that the heavy marketing of this will be taken up – as amply demonstrated by Martin’s “successes” page – by those who are already well off i.e. the two thirds shown on that page who have succeeded but who are from properties banded E, F, or G i.e. the top 20% of the housing ladder,

You ask if it has occurred to me that the better off in our society probably already had access to this knowledge and are already enjoying fair taxation. Look at the facts. Two thirds of Martin’s “successes” are those in the top 20% i.e. Bands E, F & G. Your argument doesn’t stack up.

Isn’t the reality that homes in Bands A,B,C &D, are likely more homogenous and therefore more easily grouped together/banded/properly valued. Is the obvious conclusion not, therefore, that by the very nature of this issue, those with more individual homes (and thus more expensive) will be the very people who have a valid challenge. Incidentally, “mere band C’s&D’s” as you describe them, are not the majority. In reality, Bands A&B form 45% of the housing stock, and bands C&D 36%. Is this really witholding useful information from the less well off. I think not

As for lambs to the slaughter etc, I could go on but demolishing peoples beliefs isn't my aim - I'm trying to get people to think about the consequences of their actions on others.

prudryden

If the properties that are in E,F,and G have been misbanded. That means they should be in a lower band and, therefore, the same as A,B, or C. Therefore, some poor not so well off person is paying much more than his peers. Thanks to Martin, he has been made aware of the problem.

Jotts

Bob_Roberts wrote:

Thanks – I’m not at all suggesting that Government funding should be propped up by errors. What I am saying is that the heavy marketing of this will be taken up – as amply demonstrated by Martin’s “successes” page – by those who are already well off i.e. the two thirds shown on that page who have succeeded but who are from properties banded E, F, or G i.e. the top 20% of the housing ladder,

You ask if it has occurred to me that the better off in our society probably already had access to this knowledge and are already enjoying fair taxation. Look at the facts. Two thirds of Martin’s “successes” are those in the top 20% i.e. Bands E, F & G. Your argument doesn’t stack up.

Isn’t the reality that homes in Bands A,B,C &D, are likely more homogenous and therefore more easily grouped together/banded/properly valued. Is the obvious conclusion not, therefore, that by the very nature of this issue, those with more individual homes (and thus more expensive) will be the very people who have a valid challenge. Incidentally, “mere band C’s&D’s” as you describe them, are not the majority. In reality, Bands A&B form 45% of the housing stock, and bands C&D 36%. Is this really witholding useful information from the less well off. I think not

As for lambs to the slaughter etc, I could go on but demolishing peoples beliefs isn't my aim - I'm trying to get people to think about the consequences of their actions on others.

Hi Bob.

I used to work for the Valuation Office.

Although I understand what you are saying and the fact that the money will come from somewhere that doesn't justify that someone in an incorrect Council Tax band should overpay. Whether they are wealthy or not.

The Valuation Office are responsible for Policing the Council Tax List. There aim is to have a fair, correct and consistant list. (Now I'm not saying it is 100% correct and opinions vary on Council Tax fairness)

Therefore if somebody is in the incorrect band then they should be put into the correct band. Whether that means up or down.

If they have overpaid then they should be repaid.

How the Council choose to spend their money is their duty and again opinions vary.

But just because somebody is wealthy that doesn't mean they should overpay.

And before you ask, no I am not wealthy. Far Far from it.

I urge everyone to check they are in the correct band. If they are then they are not entitled to a windfall.
If they are in the incorrect band then they should contact their local Valuation office. That includes those that are in a band which is too low. This is the biggest problem and until the Valuation Office is made aware of properties in too low a band it cannot do anything.

Over the years I worked for the Valuation Office there were a few (and not many) that we did catch up with. I even remember one who had incorrectly been banded a Band A and never ever questioned it. When we carried out a Revalution in Wales we discovered it was a Huge Country House and was put into band H. As this was an error in the list the council could NOT chase back payments.

tattyted_2

Jotts wrote:

Hi Firstly Ignore Council valuations and the amount you paid for the Ex Council House. The Valuation Office only look at TRUE SALES. i.e what the property would actually have sold for. To get this they look at identical property that actuallt sold.

You don't say but I'm guessing you live in Wales.

Wales had a revaluation in 2005 which means they changed the valuation date to 1st April 2003. So they are looking at what your house was worth in 2003 and not 1991.

A Band D is for values of £91k to £123k.

As you mentioned a house also sold for 84,950 in 2001 I would assume that due to an increase in the house market by 2003 the property would be worth in excess of £91k so I would assume this band D is correct for the 2005 Revaluation.

The Nationwide Calculator is a guide and isn't always correct so don't take the figures as FACT use them as a guide.

You say you made an appeal in 1993. Did you get your band reduced or did it stay the same. And what band was it? Was it Band C?

When you make an appeal the Valuation Office look at your band. If they think its too high or low they will reduce it.

If they believe it to be correct then they will advise you.

If you disagree with their findings that is when you can take it to a tribunal who will then decide who is right.

The Valuation or the Council Taxpayer. Don't be afraid.

Do your homework and get all your facts ready. Then speak to the Valuation Office.

Hi no i live in worcester uk,it was a neighbour who made a appeal in 1993 on the valuation list its still showing has a D then under court it says C what ever that means?

Penguinloz

tattyted wrote:

Hi no i live in worcester uk,it was a neighbour who made a appeal in 1993 on the valuation list its still showing has a D then under court it says C what ever that means?

A C by the court code means it has been confirmed as being correct by a tribunal. Therefore, it makes it harder to appeal against the banding as it has already gone to a tribunal, and there are only a few things like a material change of circumstance that will help with a new appeal, as once it has been confirmed at a tribunal, it is unlikely they will alter it.

tattyted_2

thanks for the reply so its not worth me trying then ?

guppy

tattyted wrote:

thanks for the reply so its not worth me trying then ?

If the properties are similar then no, not really. But if you're concerned the VOA can at least explain the court decision.

caseya

Hi

I have a question, well 2 actually. For background - I have just done the calculation on my house and reckon that I can appeal for my current property as the house next door is the same as mine (but it also has a loft conversion) and it is in Band B when I am in Band C! The Nationwide calculator also shows that I should be in Band B.

This got me thinking - I am pretty sure the house I previously lived in was also rated a Band C when I lived there so I checked it out on the VOA site but it says currently it is a Band B. So I have 2 questions:

Is there any way of checking the history of my council tax payments for my previous property to see if my memory is working correctly and I was indeed charged at Band C, and if so, is there a way of appealing against the council tax paid on that property should it be discovered that I also paid over the odds for that property? Or am I just being greedy

If I haven't confused you all, any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!