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

Laneyboo

Hi there,

I live in a 2 bedroom 1st floor flat tht was just built in 2004.. currently we are band C, there are much older 2 bedroom flats 4 storeys high that are literally a spit away from me across the street that are band A and full houses that are further into my street that are band B (although they are not new builds either). I telephoned the assessors office today and was asked to send a letter detailing what properties i am comparing mine to and stating all my points for rebanding.

Does anyone know if it matters that my house is newer than the others? Also, most of the new builds identical to me are part ownership and so i cant find a proper estimate of how much this flat is worth to do a calculator for 1991, how do i work that out? i just dont think its fair that i am paying more now and i am in a higher band now than i was when i lived in a two bedroom two storey house in a private estate. Also could anyone give me a heads up as to how to word the letter?

Thanks

Maisie

Zebedeee wrote:

Maisie, this sounds a bit simillar to our situation. However, I got some advice and was told that they have to reconsider under certain circumstances, one of which being that if you can find a property in your area which is in a simillar situation to you which has been rebanded following a tribunal within the last 6 months, then you too can push for a tribunal (which I think may be your only recourse here). It has made them start looking at our case once again.

You can find tribunal results at the Valuation Tribunal Service website https://www.valuation-tribunals.gov.uk

Its possible that there is no such property close to you at present, but the chances are that one will come up in the near future. Meanwhile, I'd keep on at them and see if you can get them to come round and see your house so you can show them it is not what they think.

Nil desperandum!

Thanks zebedee and if you're still wondering why I didn't pursue this when I first posted in 2005 it was because soon after that date I was diagnosed with breast cancer and spent the next 8/9 months having treatment.
Anyway I'm fine now and raring to chase up this council tax banding.

I did check the valuation-tribunals site but there are none applicable to this area.
I think all the wise ones 'in the know' got their banding reduced in 1993.

What annoys me too is that many of the bigger houses around here that have had extensions within the last 3/4 years and have been sold on still have not had their banding raised nor an indicator (i) and are still in the same band as us. I gave this info to the voa and they say their banding is incorrect. I know that!
As I understand the system (from other posts, possibly yours) the voa will not raise a banding through information from others only on sale and change of ownership.
There must have been a breakdown in the system somewhere and the voa do not have the information about these extensions. I suppose it is the council that informs the voa after the house is signed off after extending and it hasn't been followed through.

I wish I could get the voa to see this house as it is tiny compared to these others. I'll have to go down that road I think.

Thanks again and I look forward to hearing of any developments you've had in your case.

Maisie

Zebedeee

I'm sorry if I sounded nosey Maisie! I'm really glad to hear you are fit and well now. I know what you mean tho' - you need a clear head to fight your way round this!

It really sounds to me like you have a very solid case. Keep at it and hopefully they will give up before you do!

I'll keep you posted regarding any develepments here in case I can be of help.

Zebedee

guppy

Laneyboo wrote:

Does anyone know if it matters that my house is newer than the others?

Hello. Council Tax is based on market value. Usually a new house will be worth more than an old one, unless its a character property of course...:p

Maisie

Zebedeee wrote:

I'm sorry if I sounded nosey Maisie! I'm really glad to hear you are fit and well now. I know what you mean tho' - you need a clear head to fight your way round this!

It really sounds to me like you have a very solid case. Keep at it and hopefully they will give up before you do!

I'll keep you posted regarding any develepments here in case I can be of help.

Zebedee

Thanks Zebedee.

moose_2000

:eek: I don't know if anyone can offer advice on my council tax rebanding. I live in Telford and Wrekin and recently appealed my banding as I am a D and a property that is exactly the same and similar properties are all band C. I received a letter stating that my band is correct and therefore they are going to put up the other properties instead! Not only am i going to be off everyones christmas card list when I asked how to appeal they said i couldn't as I have lived in the property for over 6 months. I bought the house in 1998 and paid under the price bracket for band D then and the other propery has been sold twice so ample opportunity to reband I would have thought. I am really at a loss as to what to do next, any ideas?

Maisie

moose_2000 wrote:

:eek: I don't know if anyone can offer advice on my council tax rebanding. I live in Telford and Wrekin and recently appealed my banding as I am a D and a property that is exactly the same and similar properties are all band C. I received a letter stating that my band is correct and therefore they are going to put up the other properties instead! Not only am i going to be off everyones christmas card list when I asked how to appeal they said i couldn't as I have lived in the property for over 6 months. I bought the house in 1998 and paid under the price bracket for band D then and the other propery has been sold twice so ample opportunity to reband I would have thought. I am really at a loss as to what to do next, any ideas?

Moose I'm sure Zebedee or Altarf or one of the more council tax knowledgeable people will soon be along to advise you.
Putting up bands has been known on these posts though!

My thoughts are that( as you say )the voa/council should have been aware of the lower banding in the last two sales. They're slacking in their duties.
Council tax often doesn't seem to come into the picture on house sales.

If you can't appeal you can certainly ask for a review of your banding.

Good luck. Maisie

dunker_2

First - sorry if there has already been discussion about 1991 values of 'right to buy' council houses. I tried to search but of course pretty much every post has council, tax, right, buy etc so no luck. Here it is:

I have asked for rebanding on the grounds that my house, an ex-council property, was worth much less than the 52k+ band it's in now, in 1991. At that time council house prices were seriously lower than others - few people wanted ex-council. I want to produce evidence that similar properties (and they are all VERY similar, being council) in similar areas (rural, local) were being sold at Band A prices in 1991. Problem: How to find out what they were being sold for in 1991. I've asked the council under FOI legislation. They reply that the only records they have now are the summary reports. I don't believe them - how long should they keep records of asset sales of this value? It's public domain info - I could get it at the Land Registry (just down the road as it happens) but it would cost £15 a go, and I don't know what addresses to search.

The local Valuation Office (Bournemouth) have written to say and emphasise that banding is based on Open Market Value at the time; I point out that these houses never came on the open market and valuations were made "as if" they were. Any one had experience of this very specific area?

Andy

lostnfound

Im sitting here absolutely furious with the scottish assessors office after being told on the 1st of February that my re-band had been successful i have now recieved this years council tax bill and guess what im still a bleedin band C, phoned the assessors and they say it hasnt even been dealt with yet,wish i could get my hands on that mans scranny neck id wring it for him,gentleman in question will get back to me tommorrow so he better have a good answer for me..... :mad:

jo7679

Hi, I'm new here so would appreciate any advice..

I moved in and mortgaged my house in 1981, as I bought it for £16,800..which by the calculator on this site I would be just over the mark making my Band B correct but I re- mortgaged in 1986 to £18,500 which by the calculator would put me in Band A and seeing as the banding didn't get done until 1991 I don't think the value at that time would have greatly increased..

The other thing is that on my block of houses were all a B except my next door neighbour who is an A!! but it's the same style of house.

I just need advice on if it would be to me advantage to claim or is it a waste of time

Any advice appreciated

Jo