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

ddks

rhea83 wrote: »

Hi all... does it matter or make a difference if the flat i live in was built around 2007?

Im struggling with the fact that I am in band C... but all valuations as per the article says B... all my neighbours are C but then they could all be on the wrong band too...

I need help with this one as I need to be certain it wont go up... It surely cant go up though... Im a flat!

Hi rhea83,
The build date is irrelevant. All properties are banded based on sales evidence of similar properties on or around 1st April 1991.

See if you can find any VTS decisions for similar properties in your area. See reply to Miel2

lincroft1710

ddks wrote: »

Hi Miel2,

Have you had a look on the Valuation Tribunal Service site for any similar appeals for flats in your area? Select "Decisions & Listings" enter the the first 4 characters of your postcode.

In some cases addresses, price paid & sale date are listed - would give you some indication of 1991 values

Out of interest, I just tried that using the first 4 characters of my own postcode. Result was 26 decisions yet my postcode covers a very large residential area (literally thousands of homes). Not one of the addresses was within a mile of my home.

Of the 26 appeals 2 were for annex situations and 2 for invalid appeals, so only 22 on actual banding.

One disadvantage is that only decisions from 2006 are listed

ddks

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Out of interest, I just tried that using the first 4 characters of my own postcode. Result was 26 decisions yet my postcode covers a very large residential area (literally thousands of homes). Not one of the addresses was within a mile of my home.

Of the 26 appeals 2 were for annex situations and 2 for invalid appeals, so only 22 on actual banding.

One disadvantage is that only decisions from 2006 are listed

When I spoken to the VOA, I have been told properties within a 5 mile radius!?!

In some areas and cases specific addresses are recorded, so it maybe useful to some residents to some extent. It's a starting point. I found a 4 bed property on our estate originally placed in a band F, which was used at VTS in 2006
The band has been reduced to a band E since 1996. Having stood back & looked at the property, nothing has changed!
Therefore in the absence of sales information or a proposal the banding has been changed?
Same situation on a band E property.
We are really questioning our bandings on our estate. The VO state they are no comparison, no reasons are ever given.

lincroft1710

Within 5 miles of my home encompasses villages and suburbs which are not in a comparable situation.

I have searched on other postcodes since including the other two in my town. It is very noticeable that appeals in the current decade have fallen off quite considerably.

However it is still a useful tool.

Petlamb

So, we're pondering this one. We've lived here four years (so outside the 6 month thing, but still able to ask ever so politely!), and have had doubts about the banding for a long time.

It's a 2 bed end terrace, and it's a B. Most of the houses on our street are As, a couple of Bs and Cs (but the Cs are significantly larger than ours). We've calculated the value circa 91 and the checker reckons 38k. (It last sold for 39k in 99, not to us, we rent).

One thing I've noticed is that all the numbered houses on our street are As. Most of the named (which ours is), are Bs/Cs with a couple of exceptions. I'm not sure, but there's a possibility we've had an extension prior to us moving in, but whether that was before or after the last sale I wouldn't know.

I would think it next to impossible to be reassessed to a C, and I don't think there's much risk to neighbours, but I'm not sure whether to proceed. I honestly think the two possible outcomes are staying as a B or being moved to A.

lincroft1710

Petlamb wrote: »

It's a 2 bed end terrace, and it's a B. Most of the houses on our street are As, a couple of Bs and Cs (but the Cs are significantly larger than ours). We've calculated the value circa 91 and the checker reckons 38k. (It last sold for 39k in 99, not to us, we rent).

One thing I've noticed is that all the numbered houses on our street are As. Most of the named (which ours is), are Bs/Cs with a couple of exceptions. I'm not sure, but there's a possibility we've had an extension prior to us moving in, but whether that was before or after the last sale I wouldn't know.

I would think it next to impossible to be reassessed to a C, and I don't think there's much risk to neighbours, but I'm not sure whether to proceed. I honestly think the two possible outcomes are staying as a B or being moved to A.

1.House Price Indices are inaccurate

2. Are there any end terraced in Band A?

3. Why are some houses numbered and some named? Is there a difference in size, type, construction or facilities?

ctsoton

Posted this in the other thread before realising that was for success stories:


Having a bit of a nightmare with my council tax banding, the VOA already rejected my claim a few years ago. Have just got them to take another look at it.


I bought a 1 bed 600sq ft apartment in July 2015 for £144k. It is in Band B


This is the same band as the 2 x 700 sq ft 2 bed apartments above me that sold for £175k.

And also the same as 2-3 bed houses as big as 946sq foot on the same development that sold for £220k-£230k!



I sent the council scans of the marketing brochure for the development which show the layouts, sizes and tax bands, but they've said I need different/better evidence.

What's stranger is that most of the houses are Band B except for a couple, which despite being identical in size/design to the others are on Band C!

MinnieSchnau

Has anyone ever had a succesful rebanding then received a refund even though they have claimed Council Tax Benefit for some of the affected years, I am worried i may owe money rather than receiving a refund - advice please

CIS

MinnieSchnau wrote: »

Has anyone ever had a succesful rebanding then received a refund even though they have claimed Council Tax Benefit for some of the affected years, I am worried i may owe money rather than receiving a refund - advice please

Council Tax Benefit was credited direct to the council tax account so they'll adjust the council tax benefit on the account, if needed, and remove the excess council tax benefit directly from the account - you won't owe them any money due to that.

If you received full council tax benefit for any year then you'll not get any council tax refund for that year.

Sassy_girl

I followed the details on the page and from 1994 till now I got back just over 3k all relatively simple to do I have now typed up a step by step guide for my neighbors who are also on the wrong banding