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

poorperson

Top man from the VOA rang me yesterday while sitting in the club playing doms. Fortunately for him, things were going well. However, he still insisted that the VOA's valuation was correct but I was adamant that it was not I stuck to my guns and told him no matter what he came up with to prove his point, I would disagree. He has been making a comparison with larger properties up the road and I told him that was not feasible. I let him know repeatedly that I had a valuation (31400, way below the band B threshhold) for a remortgage in 11/92 and that is what he should use. He disagreed obviously but I stressed that I would stick to my guns and anything else would mean that the listings was not a true reflection of the valuations at the time and therefore the VOA would be dishonest and not acting in a fair proper manner regarding the listings, as they are supposed to do. I'm not giving up until they drag me off to the funny farm.

guppy

poorperson wrote:

I let him know repeatedly that I had a valuation (31400, way below the band B threshhold) for a remortgage in 11/92 and that is what he should use. He disagreed obviously.

Why wouldn't he accept the mortgage valuation? If that's full market value in 1992 for a house in reasonable repair then I can't see how it can be Band B. Is £31k the insurance rebuild cost excluding the land value?

guppy

abbottw wrote:

Hi this is my first time posting on this site, after reading ML advice on Bandings I checked mine and discovered that most of the houses up my street are in Band C (I am in Band D) the person across the road from me has exactly the same size house and we are both end of terrace she is in Band C also.... I said I would appeal to the independent Valuation Tribunals Service which he said I couldn’t do. I am now completely baffled and am at a loss. Could someone please help me and suggest what to do next.

Abbot, you can't appeal to the Tribunal about the valuation if six months has past since you moved in. But you can appeal about the VO making your appeal invalid. You won't win though.

Regarding the banding, if the houses are genuinely identical they should be in the same band. If you feel strongly about it write in to the Listing Officer at the VOA and remind them they have a statutory duty to maintain a fair, acccurate and consistent valuation list.

Get your facts right and don't be fobbed off by legalese.

abbottw_2

Thank you guppy, I will do just that, I have done more research into this so feel I do have a good case. Will let you know how I get on.

Regards Wendy

Alan123

We moved two years and tried to appeal for a reduction in band for our previous house. We were told that because we no longer live there and have no legal right to the property, we cannot appeal. Surely this can be right - if the house was overbanded then we are owed a refund - whether we still live there or not.

Does anyone have direct experience of this type of case?

Maisie

Alan123 wrote:

We moved two years and tried to appeal for a reduction in band for our previous house. We were told that because we no longer live there and have no legal right to the property, we cannot appeal. Surely this can be right - if the house was overbanded then we are owed a refund - whether we still live there or not.

Does anyone have direct experience of this type of case?

Read zebedee's posts #789 and # 793 and some of the previous posts.
You'll find the answers to your problem there.

abbottw_2

I have received my letter saying they cant accept my challenge of the valuation band. But they will review the banding etc. They have enclosed a Council Tax Dwelling Details form for me to complete, now the problem with this is we have recently added a conservatory, and a garage, which they are asking me to declare on the form, so will this affect my request to have my band reduced in line with my neightbours as we have improved the property. What I am saying to them is in 1991, I and another couple of houses up my street were the only ones in a D whilst all the others are a C surely thats what they should be looking at, not how my house is now 16 years down the line. Please can someone advise me what I should do.

Altarf

abbottw wrote:

we have recently added a conservatory, and a garage, which they are asking me to declare on the form, so will this affect my request to have my band reduced in line with my neightbours

Your property will be valued as it was in 1991, without the alterations. They want the form completed so that when the property is next sold then it will be revalued with the alterations.

tarinilie

nicola82 wrote:

Hello don't know if im posting in the right bit, but my council (welwyn/hatfield) has said that my bandings are based on 1993 property prices is this right, and if so why is it different to everyone elses?
Do the same rules apply and if so, as i dont have an "official" reason, what do i have to send them to make an appeal??

no the council are wrong - all bands in england are based on 1991 prices

tarinilie

abbottw wrote:

I have received my letter saying they cant accept my challenge of the valuation band. But they will review the banding etc. They have enclosed a Council Tax Dwelling Details form for me to complete, now the problem with this is we have recently added a conservatory, and a garage, which they are asking me to declare on the form, so will this affect my request to have my band reduced in line with my neightbours as we have improved the property. What I am saying to them is in 1991, I and another couple of houses up my street were the only ones in a D whilst all the others are a C surely thats what they should be looking at, not how my house is now 16 years down the line. Please can someone advise me what I should do.

no if you improved the house the VOA will disregard this improvement but they want the detail for a future revaluation