Council Tax query

JimboP_2

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping you can help me! I bought my first home last year with my partner. We moved in and set up our council tax.

For the first few months it came out at around £150 (its a 2 bed flat) the rate then rose towards the end of last year to £190. After the 2 month holiday you get we received our new summary for the year ahead and the rate has gone back down again to £150.

Is this normal? Can I contest the banding we have been placed on? I think that the charges are a bit steep considering the size of our place!

Any help would be appreciated! I'm lost as to where to start!

Thanks!

lincroft1710

Council Tax is a large expense. Sorry but can't help with an explanation of the fluctuation of last year's payments.

As you seem to have occupied the flat for more than 6 months you can only ask the Valuation Office Agency (Eng and Wales) or Assessor (Scot) for a band review. You must also provide a reason why you think your band is wrong, thinking the band is too high is not enough. Follow Martin's guide on the Mortgage/Homes tab at top of the page. But be advised that house price indices are inaccurate, so even if the hpi shows the value of your flat to be in a lower band, it may still be correct.

JimboP_2

thanks, I'll have a look in to it - I think the banding is high as my parents moved out of a 4 bed detached house nearby 6 months ago but until then they were paying less than us!

I understand its expensive, am just worried as I don't have much experience dealing with council tax that I'm paying too much!

Thanks again

JasX

Get copies of your bills and that should show exactly why it went up. You'll 99% certainly find they didn;t shift your house between bands for a couple of months as they tend to be set in stone and difficult to budge.

most likely it'll be due to payment timing/some recalculation or other error.

Step 1 work out exactly what happened there.

Step 2 as a separate exercise look at banding and apply for revaluation if you think its warranted. (which if you really don't do your homework could go up instead of down

JimboP_2

Thanks for your help - I was totally lost as to where to start so your guidance is appreciated!