Council tax band reduction - to appeal or not to appeal?

marcofoo

Hi all,

Earlier on this year I appealed against out council tax band upon moving in to our new home. My reason was that other identical houses in the street are a band lower. I am now considering an appeal however it looks like it will involve a lot of effort. Perhaps somebody could advise whether it is worth it?

Our house in number 1 in the street. Numbers 1-34 are all band E, numbers 35-133 are band D (apart from the odd few with extensions). The houses in the connecting road, including the semi-detached neighbour, are all band E properties.

Do I have a chance of winning an appeal?

Thanks

lincroft1710

Your post is confusing!

You say in your first sentence that you appealed against the CT band upon moving in, but in the second sentence say you are now considering an appeal. Do you mean that your appeal is to be listed for a hearing by the Valuation Tribunal?

If so, it may well involve a lot of effort, but you don't get "owt for nowt". 133 identical houses in a street must be most unusual (and, sorry, rather boring). From the info you give, you certainly have a chance of winning as you equally have a chance of losing, as there seems to be doubt as which is the correct band. Unless there is something which could be considered detrimental to the value of nos. 35 - 133, it is worth the effort. If you lose - tough, but if you don't try you have no hope of winning.

marcofoo

Hi,

Sorry for confusing. We moved in to the house Jan 2010 and I made an appeal based on nothing more than there were other houses in the street in a lower bracket. This was rejected and I am considering appealing the rejection, if it is even possible.

Not every single house is the same. There are some that are terraced and some semi-detached, but they are all of a similar size and have similar gardens. However there are identical houses to ours (corner plot) in a lower bracket.

The brackets change one third up the street for no apparent reason. The only thing I can think of is distance to the small high street. Could this be it?

Thanks

Just_landed

Hi all,

Do I have a chance of winning an appeal?

---

I was going to appeal, they said they would send people out to measure size of house. Then I spoke to a chap at there end who said the other houses were probably on a band to low. What a get out clause.
They said the band I was on was probably the right tax band even though the 4 beds, mine is a 3 bed were on the same band as me.

lincroft1710

marcofoo wrote: »

Hi,

Sorry for confusing. We moved in to the house Jan 2010 and I made an appeal based on nothing more than there were other houses in the street in a lower bracket. This was rejected and I am considering appealing the rejection, if it is even possible.

Not every single house is the same. There are some that are terraced and some semi-detached, but they are all of a similar size and have similar gardens. However there are identical houses to ours (corner plot) in a lower bracket.

The brackets change one third up the street for no apparent reason. The only thing I can think of is distance to the small high street. Could this be it?

Thanks

Distance to High St would not really affect value. Semis are more valuable than terrace, so possibility of different bands. Corner plot may make a difference.

If you made an appeal online via VOA website or by completing paper version you entitled to request a hearing by Valuation Tribunal.

lincroft1710

Just_landed wrote: »

Hi all,

Do I have a chance of winning an appeal?

---

I was going to appeal, they said they would send people out to measure size of house. Then I spoke to a chap at there end who said the other houses were probably on a band to low. What a get out clause.
They said the band I was on was probably the right tax band even though the 4 beds, mine is a 3 bed were on the same band as me.

The answer is that without knowing what the evidence is which would support your current band, it's anybody's guess. The 4 beds may be too low or they may be in the correct band, it's quite common for different houses to be in the same band, 3 beds towards the bottom, 4 beds at the top.

marcofoo

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Distance to High St would not really affect value. Semis are more valuable than terrace, so possibility of different bands. Corner plot may make a difference.

If you made an appeal online via VOA website or by completing paper version you entitled to request a hearing by Valuation Tribunal.

The thing is there are semis and corner plots in a band lower than mine is, as well as terraced.

lincroft1710

marcofoo wrote: »

The thing is there are semis and corner plots in a band lower than mine is, as well as terraced.

Definitely go to Tribunal. Even if it transpires that it is those houses in a lower band which are the ones in the wrong band, the apparent anomalies should get sorted out.