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

CIS

Sandyf wrote: »

My daughter has bought a small cottage down a lane that has not been adopted by the council and has no street lighting. It is in the middle of a terace of three, the end cottages having large gardens at the side but my daughter has a small rear garden. All three cottages are the same band C which seems a lot for the services. Is there any grounds for questioning the band?

She can always ask the VOA to look at the band - if she contact them they'll tell her how to proceed.

Remember though that council tax is based solely on the assessed value of the property in April 1991. It may be that the other properties fell at the top end of the band whilst her property falls at the lower end - there is a range of £16k across the band from bottom to top.

Craig

lincroft1710

Council tax is a property tax and not a direct payment for services provided by the council.

Garden size won't have much effect on the band and the probability is Band C would be correct for each cottage. Only by querying the band would your daughter find out if the band was correct or not. But there is also a possibility that the end terraces should be Band D.

Sandyf

Thank you.


There are two old ladies in each end cottage so I won't be querying that!

BrendaHolden

My parents' flat was valued using the "drive by/clipboard" method in 1991, but their little block of 4 flats looks like 2 houses, hence, their tiny 1 bed flat is banded the same as the 3 and 4 bed houses in their close!!! I submitted a claim for them - it was rejected on the grounds that the VO believe the 1991 valuation to be correct and that they had no grounds to appeal. This was a couple of years ago but the more I learn the more I believe they MUST be able to do something about being in the wrong band. They are both pensioners and every little would help them. Anyone know if I can do anything else?

THEL00SEM00SE

In short, I have used Council Tax band check & challenge. I have referenced this across to the deeds on my house, valuations and this categorically shows I am in the wrong band. My neighbour to the left is on a Band C, my neighbour to the right is on a Band D, and I am on a BAND E even though there is little difference in size of properties! My local Councillor has visited my house upon request and written to the council contesting on my behalf to no avail. My local MP has ALSO written to the council contesting my band - AND YET THE COUNCIL STILL SAY NO!! I have documented evidence proving I am in the wrong band and despite repeated attempts they will not reband my house! PLEASE HELP / ADVISE.

lincroft1710

BrendaHolden wrote: »

My parents' flat was valued using the "drive by/clipboard" method in 1991, but their little block of 4 flats looks like 2 houses, hence, their tiny 1 bed flat is banded the same as the 3 and 4 bed houses in their close!!! I submitted a claim for them - it was rejected on the grounds that the VO believe the 1991 valuation to be correct and that they had no grounds to appeal. This was a couple of years ago but the more I learn the more I believe they MUST be able to do something about being in the wrong band. They are both pensioners and every little would help them. Anyone know if I can do anything else?

Find examples of nearby 1 bed flats in a low band and give these to the VOA and ask why your parents' flat is in a higher band.

lincroft1710

THEL00SEM00SE wrote: »

In short, I have used Council Tax band check & challenge. I have referenced this across to the deeds on my house, valuations and this categorically shows I am in the wrong band. My neighbour to the left is on a Band C, my neighbour to the right is on a Band D, and I am on a BAND E even though there is little difference in size of properties! My local Councillor has visited my house upon request and written to the council contesting on my behalf to no avail. My local MP has ALSO written to the council contesting my band - AND YET THE COUNCIL STILL SAY NO!! I have documented evidence proving I am in the wrong band and despite repeated attempts they will not reband my house! PLEASE HELP / ADVISE.

Did you apply to the council or the Valuation Office Agency, as it is the latter who deal with CT banding. If your MP has been involved then there is little else you can do unless you can find exactly the same size and type of house nearby in a lower band.

THEL00SEM00SE

Hi Lincroft1710,

Thank you so kindly for taking the time to reply to my post. Very much appreciated.

I have written to the VOA and followed the correct procedures to contest council tax band. I have even appealed on two occasions to the VOA, and as mentioned even brought in my Councillor and MP who have written directly to the Chief Executive of my Borough Council! I was hoping with such clout behind me that justice would prevail, but alas, have had no luck. In truth, I have even contemplated legal proceedings but the old David and Goliath analogy springs to mind.

Thank you again for taking the time to read my post and should there be any glimmer of hope or be there any other / further suggestions I would very much welcome them.

Yours gratefully

CIS

THEL00SEM00SE wrote: »

Hi Lincroft1710,

Thank you so kindly for taking the time to reply to my post. Very much appreciated.

I have written to the VOA and followed the correct procedures to contest council tax band. I have even appealed on two occasions to the VOA, and as mentioned even brought in my Councillor and MP who have written directly to the Chief Executive of my Borough Council! I was hoping with such clout behind me that justice would prevail, but alas, have had no luck. In truth, I have even contemplated legal proceedings but the old David and Goliath analogy springs to mind.

Thank you again for taking the time to read my post and should there be any glimmer of hope or be there any other / further suggestions I would very much welcome them.

Yours gratefully

No point writing to the council - they have no say at all in the matter.

Has your property been extended/altered and sold on at some point ?

You're also assuming at the moment that it's your band that is wrong - it may be the neighbours who have the banding problems.

Craig

THEL00SEM00SE

Hi Craig,

Thank you very kindly for taking the time to read my post. I'm sorry this reply is somewhat lengthy but tried to keep it succinct yet detailing key and vital information.

The property was extended on the 18th April 1995. I purchased the property in August 2003. A response I had from the VOA states "levels of value for council tax are based on what a property might have fetched if it had been sold on the open market on a set date: currently 1 April 1991 in England, but the size, layout and character of the property, and the physical state of the locality, are generally assumed to be as they were on 1 April 1993, when council tax was introduced". The extension was carried out after both of these dates. The letter also goes on to state, "But the levels of value are always taken as at 1 April 1991". The crux of my argument being, when I use accurate information as to what my house price is valued at now using a variety of sources, (e.g. Zoopla, Right Move, and even Martin Lewis checklist), and what it would be valued at os of 1 April 1991, it puts it at 13% less than what a Band E should be. Putting me categorically into Band D. One of their counter arguments is that these 'house price index' sites are not reliable nor valid. However I have proof of the value of the house in October 1989 (HM Land Registry), and can link this to government figures of inflation and again, this shows my house at being in a lower band. I have copied this proof and sent it to the VOA and it has been dismissed.

I genuinely believe and still hold true that I have followed the procedures to the letter and have documented and legal proof that I am in the wrong council tax band. Again, if by any slight, slim chance there is any way to proceed further with this I would be very, very keen to seek a resolution.

Thank you again for taking the time to read this post.

Yours very gratefully,