Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

lincroft1710

powerful Rogue - unless rules have changed recently 1991 house price info held by VOA is exempt from FOI.

powerful_Rogue

I had a look at the IC report regarding a similar situation regarding VOA and it states

VOA said that the complainant had requested information about the price paid for property A. VOA believed that ‘how much was paid’ was not exempt information but that ‘who paid that much’ was exempt. VOA added that many people already knew, or could ascertain with a little research, who had bought a particular property, and when. Thus, in VOA’s view, revealing the price and date of a sale would enable someone to deduce the identity of the purchaser. Accordingly, VOA considered that the combined operation of CRCA sections 18 and 23 and section 44 of the Act
meant that the information requested could not be disclosed.

Im guessing whether its allowed depends on the wording of the request. Either way, Im sure i'll find out shortly!

lincroft1710

What I used to say to taxpayers (I'm ex VOA) was "sales evidence shows houses of same type and size as yours in the street achieving prices in excess of (Band min. price) around 1/4/91".

Unless you're in a very poor part of Kent, I would be surprised at 2 bed terrace selling for £40K or less in early 91.

powerful_Rogue

Not in the poshest parts of Kent! (Dover)

Got an appoiment at the libary tomorrow to view the old newspapers from 1991, so hopefully should get a good idea from that.

Thing that got me was similar houses in the street selling in 1999 for below £40k (30,33 and 38) so would have thought back in 1991 they would have been well below the 40k threshold.

chriswilliams100

I am presently appealing against my banding for a second time having found an identical property in the street a band C and I am a D. Having contacted the VO in Swindon, they tell me thay have a different way of calculating values back to 1991...! This is held under the data protection act, what a surprise! They have forwarded my appeal to Bristol? Lets see what happens.:rotfl:

lincroft1710

chriswilliams - VOA use actual 1991 sale prices rather than using house price calculators which, as I have posted many times on this forum, are inaccurate. Disclosure of 1991 house prices is only permitted when a valid appeal has been made, this is a decision of Parliament not VOA..

Unless you are still within six months of becoming a taxpayer or there has been a recent physical change in the area or you are quoting a recent relevant Valuation Tribunal decision, then you cannot make a second appeal, you can only ask for a rebanding.

jimmyq

trying to get a few quid back for my mum....I followed the procedure and whilst the property appears to be in the same band (band D) as her neighbouring properties, I believe, given the valuation, that the property should qualify for band C quite comfortably.

so the question is please folks, should I make a claim? and if so, what grounds do I state?

any advice for a newbie much appreciated:cool:

lincroft1710

Jimmy - house price calculators are inaccurate, so you will need more ammunition to back up your claim. Look in adjoining streets for similar size/type houses as your mum's which are in lower band. Also try and find archived newspaper property ads for 1991 to see what asking prices for similar houses were.

bumbalina

Not sure if this has come up in the forum yet, but i got a £1000 refund on my council tax for being a student. Same for my mother, because my sister was still at home and is a student she had a lowered rate on the council tax. I think it was something like 20-25% reduction.

lincroft1710

Not sure if this has come up in the forum yet

Many times!!

Single person discount is 25%. If sister is full time student and thus exempt from paying Council Tax and her and your mother only adults living at home, your mother is only person liable to pay CT and will get spd of 25%.