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

lincroft1710

macha81 wrote: »

The cost of the flat was £455K.

If 2016 prices are 5 times higher than those of 1991 your apartment would have cost £91K at that time, just into Band E. Where I live in the southern half of England. prices are about 4 times higher than those in 1991.

Also 70 sq metres is a good size for a 2 bed apartment. Bear in mind that Band E ranges from £88,001 to £120,000, (prices as at 1 Apr 1991) so the 3 bed houses could have been worth over 30% more than your apartment and still be in Band E.

Footprint1975

I posted comments on my success in obtaining a re-banding and refund. I had challenged a Council Tax Band valuation carried out in 2003; and succeeded in my claim that the valuation was wrong. However, the refund received was limited to the past 6 years, on the grounds that such refunds were "capped". I am considering a challenge to that limit - any comments on similar experiences would be appreciated.

CIS

Footprint1975 wrote: »

I posted comments on my success in obtaining a re-banding and refund. I had challenged a Council Tax Band valuation carried out in 2003; and succeeded in my claim that the valuation was wrong. However, the refund received was limited to the past 6 years, on the grounds that such refunds were "capped". I am considering a challenge to that limit - any comments on similar experiences would be appreciated.

There is no specific capping in council tax legislation but some council's will however refer to the limitation act. I did a quick FOI on a dozen councils a few months ago and all of them acknowledged they would backdate without argument but it would does appear from other evidence I have heard that some councils are standing firm although this would not be the view of the valuation tribunal.

The general background on the limitation act with regards to backdated refunds & the tribunal is covered here - http://lgfa92.co.uk/council-tax-banding-refunds/

Craig

Caribooboo

Hi there, we live in a 70's road and the majority are 3 bed semi detached Band C, however there are 4 small 3 bed detached houses (of which we are one) that are Band D.
I have done the reverse calculations on the 4 in our road and also several identical detached properties (Band D) in nearby roads to get the 1991 valuations and they are all coming out well under 68K putting them in Band C.
Would this be enough to challenge the banding or would I need more evidence?
Also does anyone know which data source the VOA use as the lady I spoke to on the phone told me it 'wasn't available to the public!'

lincroft1710

Caribooboo wrote: »

Hi there, we live in a 70's road and the majority are 3 bed semi detached Band C, however there are 4 small 3 bed detached houses (of which we are one) that are Band D.
I have done the reverse calculations on the 4 in our road and also several identical detached properties (Band D) in nearby roads to get the 1991 valuations and they are all coming out well under 68K putting them in Band C.
Would this be enough to challenge the banding or would I need more evidence?
Also does anyone know which data source the VOA use as the lady I spoke to on the phone told me it 'wasn't available to the public!'

If you are using house price indices to calculate a 1991 sale from an actual sale at a later date, then you should be aware that these tend to be inaccurate, usually underestimating 1991 values.

You may need more evidence, only by submitting what evidence you have, will you find out.

The VOA have details of virtually every property sale in the country and this information can only be disclosed if a valid appeal has been made which has been given a date for a Valuation Tribunal hearing.

talisay

Band Review
This is my first time here, I need past claimants experiences and advice from anyone who knows. Many thanks in advance.

I live in a road of E's (except for 2 smaller houses which are D's) and indeed my house is in the same E category. Although, all the other houses in the road are large 4/5 bedroom double fronted jobs, mine is the same as the smaller houses. Basically the same layout as them with three bedrooms. The 2 D houses are in the same or probably better condition as mine and they each have a garage which mine doesn't.

I have lived here for 20 years, and one of the owners of the similar houses has lived here a few years longer and the other a few years shorter than me. I did enquire about 10 years ago about the difference in Council Tax (now about £300 a year) and was told by the then rating officer that mine was the correct rating and the other two were in the wrong band which will be adjusted (it never has)

I did ask about appealing and was told that he had made his decision and no appeal was allowed.
Having read Martin's report recently that things have changed and appeals are possible I re-applied and like many people was told my claim was invalid because I hadn't made it within 6 months of moving in.

I contacted the VOA and there was a whole different attitude than before and they said that although my claim was invalid they would raise a Band Review and I would be advised how this would be done in a week or two.

Has anyone had their Band Review and their band stay the same and their neighbour(s) Council Tax increased. I am concerned about this as it would not benefit me and I am on good terms with the neighbours. At least up to now.

Any other information about previous Band Reviews would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

lincroft1710

I'm ex VOA and can confirm that on several occasions when a council taxpayer asked for a band review it ended up with neighbours' bands being increased and their band remaining the same

mb73

Hi. I recently moved into a 3 bed sem-detached housing association property. The property is currently in band D, but I believe it should be band C, as my next-door neighbour's is. I challenged the banding via the VOA, and have just received a letter rejecting the challenge. The officer who made the decision used the prices of three nearby properties to explain their reasoning. However, I have found a further ten properties on the estate which are similar in size and all sold for between £48-£66,000 in the years 1996 - 2000, so clearly band C. What I would like to ask is whether this would be sufficient grounds for appeal? Does anyone have any experience of going through the appeals process, and know what sort of evidence is required? It all seems rather daunting so is it just time for me to give up on this and accept the VOA decision? Thanks.

talisay

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I'm ex VOA and can confirm that on several occasions when a council taxpayer asked for a band review it ended up with neighbours' bands being increased and their band remaining the same

Thanks Lincroft, The VOA has said he is going to check on rebanding my house, He never mentioned others.
The thing is that on comparing my house with the other two it would be almost impossible to put the three houses into different bands. They are so much alike. Can't see how it happened in the first place. This why I am worried that he may increase theirs to match mine which is likely to upset the neighbours.

hgghhh

after receiving a letter saying my house had been re-banded i was excited and after some calculations worked out i was due around £3500 however when receiving a letter from the local council this had dropped to £1700, instead of offering the repayment from when i moved into the property it was from when my partner moved out. Is there any chance i can claim the money i was wrongly charged from the previous years before my partner moved out?