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

barnyard_2

Been through the invalid appeal procedure (see my earlier posting #599) and have a tribunal coming up in a couple of weeks' time.

Just received this note from the VOA guy after I'd dropped him a line about the VOA website only going on-line in 2002.

Council Tax bandings have always been in the public domain. Before the website was established the listings were available for viewing in hardcopy format at the Valuation Office and Local Authority Offices. We would also have given details of any band over the telephone ( As long as it was a reasonable number).

Any suggestions for my next step?

Thanks very much.
Barnyard

mazz_2

This year I am leaving the UK for Australia and leaving my student son in my house, because it will cheaper for him. I have been informed that he will still have to pay council tax as if I am living with him because I am not paying council tax elswhere in the UK. His legal document from the University states he is exempt from council tax. Anyone know where I can go from here please?
Mazz

square-eyes

bye_bye_band_G wrote:

I think you could probably do this while also continuing with the review, in which case I'd concentrate on inconsistent banding and 1991 sales prices of similar properties, not the flood risk. I see the flood risk as a means to an end ie a tribunal date.
But it wouldn't hurt to check you can do both options by ringing them and I firmly believe that as they are human (yes really!), they often respond positively to polite and friendly communication from the public and it may stand you in good stead when decisions are being made.

I phoned my helpful valuations officer. He sounded a bit stressed by all the appeals flooding in. His advice to me was to do nothing until the review (about 6 weeks). If I didn't like the outcome he said I could always appeal with the "Increased Flood risk" as the reason. It seems to be that the time limit on the appeal process is only for the original reason "Out of Time". Well I did know that would not be valid reasons for rebanding but I said I was so glad that the web site didn't crash on me I typed anything in just to get the process under way. I hope to be able to report some good news in a few weeks.

barnyard_2

I have read most of the posts on this topic (eyes are spinning as a result) and I have not come across anyone who has actually attended a tribunal hearing. Has anyone gone to one? I would be interested to hear any experiences.

Cheers
Barnyard.

mike_the_bike_2

Looking for advise on how to approach the council on looking at my council tax banding..The background

Bought house in may 1993 Band E and lived in it continuously paying council tax

Identical house was rebanded 6 months ago to band D but they were told by valuations officer only just squeezed into this

I built an extention on my house and it was only completed and inspected by council building inspector and signed off by him four months ago...I would say that by house would now be a band E with the extension...

However looks like I have been paying the wrong band for about 13 years!!

any thoughts on how to approach the council on this one please?

Rooster_Booster_2

Can someone read this to make sure Ive understood the basics.

I asked my local VO for a reassessment.
Letter came back with the no grounds for appeal. Harsh but OK
This letter Included a questionaire. Which Ive completed and sent back.
I understand they will know reaccess my banding.



If they reband me to a lower Band, I can claim back overpayments ???

If they keep me in the same band, I cant make a formal appeal unless I have a case for one of the Appeal list ???

Hope that makes sense

Ta Rooster

Zebedeee

barnyard wrote:

I have read most of the posts on this topic (eyes are spinning as a result) and I have not come across anyone who has actually attended a tribunal hearing. Has anyone gone to one? I would be interested to hear any experiences.

Cheers
Barnyard.

Quite so, Barnyard. I put out an appeal for anyone who had been to a tribunal some time ago and never had any response. So if there is anyone out there who has been to a tribunal, we would like to know about it, please!

johnbrooks

mazz wrote:

This year I am leaving the UK for Australia and leaving my student son in my house, because it will cheaper for him. I have been informed that he will still have to pay council tax as if I am living with him because I am not paying council tax elswhere in the UK. His legal document from the University states he is exempt from council tax. Anyone know where I can go from here please?
Mazz

This is nonsense. Why should you pay Council Tax if you live in another country? If you were leaving the property vacant you might have to pay (less a discount), but your son will be living there and he will be exempt.

guppy

Lindsae wrote:

I was fascinated by the discrepancies in the council tax bands between Scotland and the rest of the country. Can anyone tell me why I am Band G in Scotland and would be Band F in England? Surely it must be against my Human Rights to discriminate against me because of where I live? 2007 charge will be £2486.42. I call that a rip off.
Lindsae

Location ,location, location. House prices are lower in Scotland. A house the same as yours in England would also probably be valued in Band G.

If you valued houses in Scotland against the English band ranges many houses would be clumped in the lower bands (and the amount of tax due for these bands would have to increase accordingly.)

guppy

jollyanna wrote:

When they send the "property details" form with the response to your query, it makes me think that they don't have any data whatsoever on your property and are relying on us, the clients, to provide the information. They should be paying us to submit this data.

Surely it makes sense to double check the existing data before considering the value? If they pay you where do you think the money is going to come from? Our taxes.