New Build Council Tax Band

charleeboo

Hi All.

I moved into a new build before the council tax band was evaluated. I was told that the property would be in the same band but it has risen 2 bands.

The area I live in is under regeneration as it has a bad reputation so a lot of the properties are being knocked down and rebuilt.

My question is this - can I challenge the banding even though the regeneration hasn't been complete? What do they go on when they are banding new builds? The current state of the area hasn't driven up the house prices of the remaining houses in the area (that aren't being regenerated).

Would it be worth me trying to get it rebanded?

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and any advice you can offer would be much appreciated

BadgerFace_2

New build banding is a complete joke, they put them on much higher bands than the equivalent second hand property would be. A recent one was purchased for £150k, yet the council put it on band G, saying if it had been for sale in 1993, it would have cost between 106k and 212k, yet if you put the same house into the nationwide or halifax value calc, it comes out at being worth around 45k.

I would challenge it.

cardsharps

charleeboo wrote: »

My question is this - can I challenge the banding even though the regeneration hasn't been complete? What do they go on when they are banding new builds?

New builds are usually placed 2 bands higher than comparable properties nearby. It's a money making racket by local councils. I doubt if a challenge will succeed as they'd have to revalue all the other properties tooand they'd lose alot of revenue. I'd suggest writing to your MP and the national press to further expose this racket.

poppysarah

If you accept that new builds have a premium then perhaps the council tax should start off at, say band c and move down to band a after a few years.

Of course buying a new build normally means you've paid more than for an older property.

CIS

New builds are usually placed 2 bands higher than comparable properties nearby. It's a money making racket by local councils.

How can it be a moneymaking racket for the council ?. The council have no say in the banding of properties.

samroo

Definitely challenge banding. We had 1 bed new build banded b. All you need to do is contact valuations agency with info of bandings for similar local homes (obviously not other new builds) and estimate of pch price at valuation date which is sometime in the 1990s

lincroft1710

In England and Scotland CT bands are based on a dwelling's value as at 1 Apr 1991, in Wales 1 Apr 2003. The present character of the surrounding area can be taken into account. Contact VOA (E and W) or Assessor (Scot), both their websites are informative, and you can appeal online.