Wrong Council Tax Band - No Change!

sassybird

I have been advised to post my query on this forum. I would be grateful for any advice:

A couple of months ago I checked out the link on Martin's for my Council Tax Band and found that there are only two houses on my road on C band (the other house being detached), the remainder are on B.

I am in a three bed semi, there are two bed semis on B band on my road and I was told by the tax office that they had them down as 98 square metres space. My house is on their system as 129 square metres. Fair enough I thought, I've obviously got more room.

However the three bed semi that is joined onto my house and all the three bed semi's on that side of my house are banded B band also. The tax office has got them down as 98 square metres space as well. (THAT MEANS THE TAX OFFICE HAVE THE THREE BED SEMIS AND THE TWO BED SEMIS DOWN AS THE SAME SIZE).

I put in a claim to have my Council Tax Band looked at (the form is filled in by the tax office, so I don't know how much detail was there).

I have now received a letter from them saying that it has been reviewed and there will be no change in my tax band blah, blah, blah and that this is the final decision and it is not open for discussion or appeal.

CHARMING!

Is there nothing I can do now? I have a 3 bed semi that is the same size and value as the house ajoining me and I'm being charged more for my council tax.

I may be being a bit thick here but the three bed houses cannot be the same size as the two bed houses. And they are all banded on the same Council Tax Band!

My final question to you all is - IS THAT IT? - is there nothing more I can do but sit and munch over the unfairness of this (like Victor Meldrew)?

Is there no Ombudsman for this?

If there is anybody out there IN THE KNOW with tax bands I would be grateful for any advice given.

Sorry to rant, but all I want is fairness.

barnaby-bear

sassybird wrote:

I have been advised to post my query on this forum. I would be grateful for any advice:

A couple of months ago I checked out the link on Martin's for my Council Tax Band and found that there are only two houses on my road on C band (the other house being detached), the remainder are on B.

I am in a three bed semi, there are two bed semis on B band on my road and I was told by the tax office that they had them down as 98 square metres space. My house is on their system as 129 square metres. Fair enough I thought, I've obviously got more room.

However the three bed semi that is joined onto my house and all the three bed semi's on that side of my house are banded B band also. The tax office has got them down as 98 square metres space as well. (THAT MEANS THE TAX OFFICE HAVE THE THREE BED SEMIS AND THE TWO BED SEMIS DOWN AS THE SAME SIZE).

I put in a claim to have my Council Tax Band looked at (the form is filled in by the tax office, so I don't know how much detail was there).

I have now received a letter from them saying that it has been reviewed and there will be no change in my tax band blah, blah, blah and that this is the final decision and it is not open for discussion or appeal.

CHARMING!

Is there nothing I can do now? I have a 3 bed semi that is the same size and value as the house ajoining me and I'm being charged more for my council tax.

I may be being a bit thick here but the three bed houses cannot be the same size as the two bed houses. And they are all banded on the same Council Tax Band!

My final question to you all is - IS THAT IT? - is there nothing more I can do but sit and munch over the unfairness of this (like Victor Meldrew)?

Is there no Ombudsman for this?

If there is anybody out there IN THE KNOW with tax bands I would be grateful for any advice given.

Sorry to rant, but all I want is fairness.

I think the point is you are being charged correctly but the mistake was in mis-listing the next door neighbours house i.e. they are being undercharged.

I'm not sure it's unfair on you per se if the neighbours are being undercharged, I don't think (and I hope there isn't) a mechanism by which the neighbours can be billed the undercharge retrospectively. You could tell the council they have the neighbours houses listed correctly so a notice is placed and on being sold/revalued their banding will increase. At the moment can only reband them if they are sold/revaluation occurs. Of course your neighbours may hate you.

barnaby-bear

sassybird wrote:

I have been advised to post my query on this forum. I would be grateful for any advice:

A couple of months ago I checked out the link on Martin's for my Council Tax Band and found that there are only two houses on my road on C band (the other house being detached), the remainder are on B.

I am in a three bed semi, there are two bed semis on B band on my road and I was told by the tax office that they had them down as 98 square metres space. My house is on their system as 129 square metres. Fair enough I thought, I've obviously got more room.

However the three bed semi that is joined onto my house and all the three bed semi's on that side of my house are banded B band also. The tax office has got them down as 98 square metres space as well. (THAT MEANS THE TAX OFFICE HAVE THE THREE BED SEMIS AND THE TWO BED SEMIS DOWN AS THE SAME SIZE).

I put in a claim to have my Council Tax Band looked at (the form is filled in by the tax office, so I don't know how much detail was there).

I have now received a letter from them saying that it has been reviewed and there will be no change in my tax band blah, blah, blah and that this is the final decision and it is not open for discussion or appeal.

CHARMING!

Is there nothing I can do now? I have a 3 bed semi that is the same size and value as the house ajoining me and I'm being charged more for my council tax.

I may be being a bit thick here but the three bed houses cannot be the same size as the two bed houses. And they are all banded on the same Council Tax Band!

My final question to you all is - IS THAT IT? - is there nothing more I can do but sit and munch over the unfairness of this (like Victor Meldrew)?

Is there no Ombudsman for this?

If there is anybody out there IN THE KNOW with tax bands I would be grateful for any advice given.

Sorry to rant, but all I want is fairness.

I think the point is you are being charged correctly but the mistake was in mis-listing the next door neighbours house i.e. they are being undercharged.

I'm not sure it's unfair on you per se if the neighbours are being undercharged, I don't think (and I hope there isn't) a mechanism by which the neighbours can be billed the undercharge retrospectively. You could tell the council they have the neighbours houses listed correctly so a notice is placed and on being sold/revalued their banding will increase. At the moment can only reband them if they are sold/revaluation occurs. Of course your neighbours may hate you.

bunking_off

Have you gone through a Valuation Tribunal? If you go on the valuation office website and look for a "C" against your property, then you have.

Am in a similar situation myself, and as I understand it (happy to be corrected), your only port of call now is an appeal via the High Court...in other words not worth it.

You and I must be the only people in the country hoping that the much-discussed in the press revaluation would go ahead....I pay £110/yr more council tax than all of my neighbours...

jamesiebabie

bunking_off wrote:

Have you gone through a Valuation Tribunal? If you go on the valuation office website and look for a "C" against your property, then you have.

Am in a similar situation myself, and as I understand it (happy to be corrected), your only port of call now is an appeal via the High Court...in other words not worth it.

You and I must be the only people in the country hoping that the much-discussed in the press revaluation would go ahead....I pay £110/yr more council tax than all of my neighbours...

Just a short note to let you all know that as of the 31st January 2007, the VOA will be able to increase any banding, but it cannot be backdated. This is a new peice of legislation, which will probably help the VOA overcome any similar problems to those that occurred in Wales. It will be from the date of the letter they send to the occupier.

J

prudryden

Class B??? What a deal! Studio flats are Class B in my area.

tgr_3

jamesiebabie wrote: »

Just a short note to let you all know that as of the 31st January 2007, the VOA will be able to increase any banding, but it cannot be backdated. This is a new peice of legislation, which will probably help the VOA overcome any similar problems to those that occurred in Wales. It will be from the date of the letter they send to the occupier.

J

I had my council tax increased and its being backdated for 6 months, what a cheek, so I don't think this can be right after what you said. I can't find this new legislation you talk about and the valuations office say its right, even though I said I knew it was in some new legislation. Where do I stand? Any help gratefully received,
TGR