Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

ann_cormack

I have a similar banding as u but am getting no-where with my complaint. Any suggestions.

camysmum

Council - East Dunbartonshire
Band before - E
Band now - D
Refund £1014
Yearly reduction - £300+

Prompted by Martin's email I checked and discovered that we, and our neighbours with the same post code, were banded at E whilst the surrounding houses of the same type were D.

Within 2 weeks of contacting the assessors office we received notice that we had been amended to a D, backdated to 1993 and today I received an email from the council confirming the amount we'll receive. Learning from other people's experience I'd requested a lump sum before they deducted it from next years council tax. I asked for compenstion for lost interest and got a "there is no provision for this " reply, next step the assessors office, I think!

We've only been here for 3 years so I've notified the son of the previous owner so he can try and claim for the years his father overpayed as part of his estate.

My neighbours are all in the process of being ammended to Band D and we think there is about £16k heading this way between us.

The assessor reckons there are less errors in Scotland because the assessment process was handled entirely in house but it's clearly still worth checking.

Cheers Martin, on behalf of all of us!

Parky001

Local Borough Council: East Hants
Council Tax Band Before:E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded:£2000+
Annual saving going forward:£275

Just one phone call and after 4 week a decision in my favour.

On another note can I now claim against my water rates as we do not have a water meter and we are charged on Rateable Value????

DCH_3

Local Borough Council: North Herts District Council
Council Tax Band Before: F
Council Tax Band After: E
Amount refunded: £2497
Annual saving going forward:

Having bought our house in April 1992, for £98k, we found that the value at that time was lower than the valuation made 1 year earlier when the property was put in Band F (£120k - £160k).
We didn't know we could challenge this, but having used your site we have successfully had the property re-banded. We were able to present the estate agents details and a copy of the solicitors confirmation of sale to the VOA and they accepted our challenge without argument.
Interestingly, the council has voluntarily contacted our 3 neighbours in identical houses advising them of the band change and rebates.:T

givememoney

Sorry I haven't read thru all the posts and this may be a duplicate.

We are an `E` and I wrote off as there are 2 properties in our road which are banded a `D`.

I received a letter back saying "no we wouldn't be rebanded" they also said we cannot appeal.........is this for certain does anyone know?

The houses that are a `D` are no different to ours.

happycookie

Walked around our area and put together a pretty good case for dropping our band from E to D. Several houses exactly the same as ours were in the band below.

Received a letter back saying that my claim had been rejected as invalid BUT that they needed to ensure that I was in the correct band and that I would be notified within two months.

Then got a letter today saying that I have been rebanded to correct a 'clerical error' and that this is effective from 1993 (well before I moved into the property). That means that just for last year I am owed £275.. Now trying to work out exactly how much I am owed and get it back from the council. :j

Thanks Martin - your advice was invaluable!

ashleeuk1

Noticed there don't seem to be many posts about councils in Scotland so thought I'd start with mine!

Watched the Newsnight Programme and thought I'd give it a go, despite having moved in over 4 yrs ago. Sent my proposal online and two weeks later recieved a letter acknowledging my proposal. Just received a letter telling me I would be dropped from a C to a B with effect form 1994!

No mention of it being outwith the 6 months or anything.

Expecting a chq shortly for approx £700

Thanks Martin!:T

Middle_Sister

Yes I've also received a knock back letter. They are not rebanding us. This is South Kesteven council. 2 page letter saying "no luck".

chestnutter

Local Council: Horsham
Banding Before: F
Banding After: E
Amount Refunded: Not sure yet but should be enough to pay for the fence(blown down in the force 10 gales). Backdated to 1993.

Hi Martin - like many people I had queried my banding (F) but missed that 6 month deadline. On your advice I photographed all my neighbouring properties and found them to be band E, even when substantially larger. It helped when I accessed the Valuation Office web site at 4 a.m. rather than during the day, when it is almost unattainable. Then worked out the 1991 prices from the Nationwide site - bit worried about mine because I paid over the odds in 1988 (£117,500) and it could have pushed me over the limit of £120,001. But luck was on my side - prices actually went DOWN in the years 1988-1991.

Can't fault the valuation office - they were totally helpful and even reasonably prompt - my initial letter was sent 29th January and here I am March 6th a very happy bunny. Reason -clerical or valuation error.

Couldn't have done it without your sound advice - many, many thanks.

wild0ne

Gloucester Council
Original Band D
New Band C

I identified an identical property in my street at a lower band, used the template to write to the Valuation Office, they agreed that my property was in an incorrect band. I have just received for the difference over 9 years - £722! The process was very simple and quick - marvellous. Thanx Martin!