Council Tax band query

zaksmum

My house is one of 20 identical houses built at the same time in the same road.

I've just discovered that, while most of the houses are in band B, five of them are in band A. Those in Band A are not inferior in any way - most of us have extended our houses now and if anything the band A houses have better extensions than the rest of us.

I'm wondering if it's worth challenging the band B listing in the hope of all of us going into band A.

Could anything go wrong though, like all of us going into band C? I don't fancy getting lynched by angry neighbours!

Werdnal

Knowing how most councils work, they would upgrade the Band A to B, not downgrade the Bs to A, so either way there will be those worse off.

lincroft1710

If you're in Eng or Wales, CT banding is done by the Valuation Office Agency (part of HMRC) not the council.

There could be several reasons for the difference in bands. The Band A houses could have had their extensions built after they were banded or the VOA may be unaware they had extensions. Or all the houses should be in Band A or all should be in Band B. Or there is something else which makes the Band A houses worth less than the Band B e.g. don't have or potential for off road parking, or have a factory at the rear.

Unless you are really unlucky, it's doubtful the houses would be increased to a C, more likely the A houses would be increased to B.

westv

If a house is extended so that it increases the CT band it won't be changed until after the property is sold.

zaksmum

So on balance it's probably not worth challenging it?

lincroft1710

westv wrote: »

If a house is extended so that it increases the CT band it won't be changed until after the property is sold.

Provided extension was done after 1 Apr 1993 (Eng), 1 Apr 2005 (Wales).