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

20SmthngSver

Darren_Thomas wrote: »

I pay my council tax over the 10 months and I do enjoy the free two months that I do not have to pay. I did not realise that I was doing this until I phoned the council and informed me this. It was a lovely surprise but I would not have known I was doing it this way if I had not of contacted them

You're not getting anything free, you're still paying the same. You're just spreading those two months over the over 10, up front.

Annie223

Hi. 
I have appealed but it has been rejected due to the 6 months rule. My argument is that I was never aware of a time restriction. I was only made aware that my council tax may be wrong as my son's council tax was less for the new house that he recently bought, which was more than I paid for my property. I have been in my current property for almost two years.
Why is there a time limit in the first place? 

CIS

Annie223 said:

Hi. 
I have appealed but it has been rejected due to the 6 months rule. My argument is that I was never aware of a time restriction. I was only made aware that my council tax may be wrong as my son's council tax was less for the new house that he recently bought, which was more than I paid for my property. I have been in my current property for almost two years.
Why is there a time limit in the first place? 

If you are out of the 6 months then you can only ask that they review it, the statutory right of appeal is lost. The fact that you were not aware of a time restriction is not a defence against it being imposed under statue (as they say Ignorantia juris non excusat, 'ignorance of the law excuses not').

lincroft1710

Annie223 said:

Why is there a time limit in the first place? 

When CT was introduced in 1993, Parliament decided that to save money it would allow only "one bite of the cherry" regarding appeals, so the 6 month time limit was applied 

JennyG70

I appealed time and time again to Mole Valley Council as I am living in a bungalow and have lived here for 40 years, in my road now, every bungalow taken down and replaced with a house or even two houses are all in the one Million plus bracket so are in G band, I am also in that band, I think that was wrong as no way is my property valued at that price..But Mole valley completely refused to budge on this. So why am I charged the same price as the New Two story houses, to live in an old bungalow? 

CIS

JennyG70 said:

I appealed time and time again to Mole Valley Council as I am living in a bungalow and have lived here for 40 years, in my road now, every bungalow taken down and replaced with a house or even two houses are all in the one Million plus bracket so are in G band, I am also in that band, I think that was wrong as no way is my property valued at that price..But Mole valley completely refused to budge on this. So why am I charged the same price as the New Two story houses, to live in an old bungalow? 

There's no point appealing to the council, they cannot do anything about the band. The Valuation Office Agency are the only party who can change banding.

JennyG70

How do  contact the Valuation Office Agency?

CIS

JennyG70 said:

How do  contact the Valuation Office Agency?

Look at www.voa.gov.uk

JennyG70

CIS said:

JennyG70 said:

How do  contact the Valuation Office Agency?

Look at www.voa.gov.uk

Thanks for you kind help, much appreciated

lincroft1710

JennyG70 said:

I appealed time and time again to Mole Valley Council as I am living in a bungalow and have lived here for 40 years, in my road now, every bungalow taken down and replaced with a house or even two houses are all in the one Million plus bracket so are in G band, I am also in that band, I think that was wrong as no way is my property valued at that price..But Mole valley completely refused to budge on this. So why am I charged the same price as the New Two story houses, to live in an old bungalow? 

Firstly you are well out of time to appeal, you can only ask the VOA to review your band. Secondly as the top of Band G is double the bottom of Band G value, it is quite possible for your bungalow to be in the same CT band as much larger houses. Thirdly it sounds as if some of those houses should be in Band H.