Council Tax

LAM2011

hi, firstly apologies if this is in the wrong place. I just wanted some advice before I approach the council as LL is well known there.

My query is : Do you pay council tax based on the whole property (ie including land) or just the house. In January this year our LL took back just over half our grazing land and yet we still pay the entire council tax bill. Do we have a right to query it or is it based on the house we live in?

lincroft1710

This is not a straightforward question.

Is the grazing land part of a larger holding owned by the landlord and what is both current and previous acreage?

Would it be obvious that the grazing land went with the house?

Unless you are in Scotland you would need to contact the Valuation Office Agency rather than the council.

LAM2011

Yes it is a bit tricky as we never had a formal lease. We have rented the entire property for over a year now knowing that at some point he is pulling down the barn at the back to turn into a bungalow to rent out (with its own rear access). Suddenly this year he had decided half the grazing (7 acres in total - he has taken back 4) he wants to keep to go with the bungalow. He does not have planning yet never mind a bungalow or tenants and we just found it rather odd. Dont want to stand on anyones toes or cause a fuss but was just curious as it has put me in an awkward position with the animals I already have grazing there.

lincroft1710

Agricultural land is exempt from council tax, but if the house was at one time the farmhouse of a working farm or smallholding, then the CT band is calculated using the value of both house and land/agricultural buildings. If you go to the VOA website and follow instructions to find your CT band, if the entry for your home has the letter (C) next to it, then your home has been valued as a farmhouse of a working farm. If not it is doubtful that the land has been reflected in the CT band.

LAM2011

Thank you so much for your replies.