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

Ron_Cook

My house is a 2001 new build (£145k) and was put into band F by the council. I have appealed the banding on the grounds that the value should have been assessed at what would have been the 1991 value according to the Nationwide BS formula (£118k) which means a band E grading.

I have received a 'notice of invalid proposal' and also a 'review of banding' letter today.

I did an online appeal after reading up on this site and am now crossing my fingers hopefully...

ForestOfBowland

Hi, I paid band D in my old house 1993 to 2002.

I've discover that its been rebanded in 2003 to a band C and that all of the same houses are also band C. Written to my old coucil, they say 'tough'. Do I have a case? Should I try the smalls claims court ?
Thanks

tjay79

ive just been successful in getting our house rebanded from c to b and recieved my cheque for my overpayments for the last thirteen years,:T i would just like to post a few questions,
would i be able to ask for the compound interest on the overpayments ?
i.ve just recieved my water rates for next year, are they based on your council tax banding ?

Maisie

tjay79 wrote:

ive just been successful in getting our house rebanded from c to b and recieved my cheque for my overpayments for the last thirteen years,:T i would just like to post a few questions,
would i be able to ask for the compound interest on the overpayments ?
i.ve just recieved my water rates for next year, are they based on your council tax banding ?

If you look back a few posts on this thread at Academic's post you will see he got interest.

Way back amongst some of the earlier posts on here I remember someone saying his water rates went down when his banding was lowered. Only after he contacted the water company though.

I think it depends what your water rates are based on.

HTH Maisie

Bluebel64

I'm considering applying for a refund, as I have just seen checked and the all the flats in the house are on different bands, one is D like mine, one a B and one a C.

However I am bit stuck as all the properties sold recently in the area have been big houses, all the rest are big houses that have been coverted into flats and all owned by a large landlord for the area.

Is it still worth trying to claim and see if I am on the wrong band?

poorperson

I've just had a reply from the VOA basically saying bog off, you are not getting your band reduced. It goes on to say the obvious but I assume this is the first refusal and hope you go away, I won't. Despite the fact that properties were selling in 2000+ for less than the valuation in 1991, the VOA is satisfied that the value of the property reflecting 1991 levels of value, lies within the range of £40001-£52000, band B. I'm after band A. Is he taking the P or what. After gathering some evidence off previous threads, should I ring up or start an appeal on line; incidentally the VOA says that there is no right of appeal, does he think I've just got off the banana boat? Any thoughts?

To cap it all,enclosed in my envelope is a refusal letter for someone living about four miles away from me. I wonder if the Data pro person would be interested.

Mark-W_2

I appealed back in december, as i was still in the 6 month period.
Today i had the voa officer around to do a valuation/survey, he was a nice guy and said he thought i was borderline.
Basically all other houses of a similar size and value in the village are band C whereas im Band D.

He said he would check the price/valuation records and get back to me next week. Fingers Crossed
:dance:

Altarf

poorperson wrote:

incidentally the VOA says that there is no right of appeal, does he think I've just got off the banana boat?

They are correct. Unless you moved in less than 6 months ago or one of the other specific reasons applies, you do not have the right of appeal. You would only have the right to appeal the fact you have been denied the right of appeal, which you stand no chance of winning.

All you can do is ask them to review your case to ensure that the list is accurate, presenting your evidence as to why you believe it is not. If they say that the list is accurate and will not reband you there is nothing you can do other than seek a judicial review at the High Court (which would not be feasable).

poorperson

Sorry about that altarf; you are indeed correct. In my annoyance at receiving the letter I wasn't thinking straight. I cannot see where they have got the info. from. I have written again to them to reassess the position. I have definite info. regarding selling prices in 2000+ and the 1991 valuation is nowhere near the CT valuation. Indeed, a property has just sold for nearly £100000 and using the calculator, the 1991 value is only £33000 now. I haven't decided yet whether to report the VOA for sending someone elses rejection with mine. I spoke to a manager and he is sending me an envelope to forward the letter on to the other person. I let him know how I felt and I may contact my MP regarding the other persons information. No doubt the DP people would be interested.

poorperson

I think I've been a bit silly and not using my brain correctly. I have been concentrating on the usual stuff (house sales/calculators) when in fact, and I stand to be corrected, I have the most damning evidence of all; I remorgaged in November 1992 at the maximum available, £31402 which is way off the Band B minimum, stupid or what?

I have had to rewrite (not a hardship) my response to the VOA and I think it is clear that the listing was not fair at the time of valuation.