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

JS2006

gatchamandave wrote:

Well, your Grandad's right lapsed after he passed away and you definitely cannot claim on behalf of someone who is deceased, I'm afraid.

IF you become the relevant party for C'tax you have a six month right of appeal from when you become the C'tax payer at the dwelling. But, um, that means taking on that responsibility.

Damn. Could maybe try hehe. Well I will be paying but only when I graduate. Does that count?

gatchamandave

Good night children....

Lu_T

Does anyone have experience of a situation like this?

Our house was built in 1988 and bought for £35,700. It was sold again in 2001for c£88k. Using the calculators Martin recommends, the approx value of the house in 1991 would have been c£51,600, which is right on the cusp of bands B and C (the change over is £52k).

Complicating things is that according to the VOA site, our house is due for a banding re-evaluation because improvements have been made. This is probably because we have added a single story extension at the back. We had owned the house for around 15 months before we did this.

So my questions -

- Is it really possible for the house to have gone up £16k in 3 years in the late 80s/early 90s? I have reservations about whether this is really possible.

- Is it worth us asking the council to re-evaluate the band if we'll only get a refund for around 15 months (the period of time we lived here before we did the improvements)?

- Could we be any worse off by asking them to re-evaluate the banding?

Feedback from anyone with similar experience would be much appreciated.

tarinilie

hi

your questions.

yes it could have gone up that much - depends on the market.

if you carried out the extension and have lived in the house since then, the VOA will completely disregard the alterations. It will only be revised, if necessary, when a sale completes or a revaluation occurs
( PS the VOA band houses not the council )

it is unlikely that your band will rise bearing in mind info provided especially as alterations will not be taken into account if the present occupier improved the dwelling as you describe.

tarin

MaxTurbo

gatchamandave wrote:

MaxTurbo wrote:

Screw the next guy, eh ? :eek:

Nooooo, that isnt what I was getting at! It was more that I just didnt mind if i didnt get anything from the situation ie a refund of some kind.

Thing I was saying about the property being converted was that I think it was converted after 1991. So how does it stand for me?? Im not sure when it was converted is the problem. Any easy was of finding out?

Im guessing that what i need to do is find out when it was converted, back date the value to that date, then use the same process?? Help please!!

Max

garibaldi22000

Alll

I have tried to question my Council Tax band with the VOA but have been told that as I am no longer living in that property, have "no right to seek an adjust of the band".

I think this is unjust as I owned the property and paid council tax on it for 10 years.

Has anyone else come accross this problem ?
Any help would be much appreciated.

Gary

fred_flower

I bought my house at the end of August 2006 for £123,750. I've checked using the calculator and the estimated price in 1991 is £40,710, i.e. at the lower end of band B.

I am paying band C council tax and so are the houses around me. Does this mean it is unlikely the council will do anything as they'll have 8 houses to re-band rather than just 1?

When I was looking to buy the house and asked about council tax the estate agent was surprised it was as high as a band C property. I also have the lease from the 1st owners in 2001 (new build) and the cost then was around 60-65K (I'd have to check the exact figure). The price when first bought is not available on the house price site but I have checked again using the 2nd sale price from 2004 and the estimated value in 1991 is £40595, i.e. still band B.

Do I have a good case? Has anyone been in a similar situation where a whole bunch of houses are also in the wrong band?

Thanks in advance

Maisie

garibaldi22000 wrote:

Alll

I have tried to question my Council Tax band with the VOA but have been told that as I am no longer living in that property, have "no right to seek an adjust of the band".

I think this is unjust as I owned the property and paid council tax on it for 10 years.

Has anyone else come accross this problem ?
Any help would be much appreciated.

Gary

Gary.
See posts #573 and #575 above.

They are circumstances like yours. Answer generally is if the present occupiers (c.tax payers) get a rebanding you can apply too.

if you read some of the posts it will explain the procedures.

HTH Maisie

pipadeepip

Hi this is the first time for me to post so hope its ok my council band went down last year does any one think its worth me applying for the rebate when my band was higher ive lived here since 1988. Thanks in advance for any advise,

maniac_uk

Hi...

I phoned my Listing Officer this week with my case which is good because my neighbour, in the same house, had his revalued from F to E in 1993 and our house is the same. However I have received a letter saying they will review my valuation and if I have any other evidence to send it in, which I am going to do. BUT the letter also says:

"If I am satisfied no alteration is appropriate I will let you know by letter but would advise you that if this is the outcome you will not be able to appeal against my decision."

IS THIS LAWFUL can I not take it to the Tribunal if I feel it has not been reviewed correctly?

Please let me know if you have had any similar letters or correspondence.

Thanks

Mike