Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

lincroft1710

blackcountrykid wrote: »

As I have been in the property for over 30 years it seems I will be entitled to 21 years backpay.
Based upon the information I have to hand this could be as much as 4K

Bear in mind that some councils will now only refund 7 years overpayment.

Pharmer

Just had a letter form the gentleman who came to measure my flat and review the banding. Success! He says we will be reduced from band C to B. All previous tenants notified over facebook this morning. Lots of happy people.

Better_Days

VOA: Ipswich
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Annual saving: £326

A very nice lady at the VOA kindly rang me to tell me that they have re-banded our property which we moved into at the end of last year. She thanked me for all the info I sent her - which included a map of the local properties (taken from my solicitors pack) to which I added the CT banding's of neighbouring properties. I also sent a schedule of local properties detailing info I found out from the internet - selling prices, number of bedrooms, double/single/no garage, plot size (from gravoplex), floor area (from the much maligned EPC's).

As far as I'm aware the VOA didn't come out to survey the property.

To be fair, there are a large variety of properties in the area, so banding isn't as clear as it is for say a row of semi's. However we are lucky that a similar size property on a similar plot is next door and they are Band D - and it appears it is this which was the deciding factor.

Thanks MSE, and I think the vendor who lived at this house for many years before we bought it will be very happy with the refund that she gets.

sugar_candy_123

Council: Epping Forest
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band Now: D
Annual saving £355

I have just moved into a block of flats that were built in 2004. All 2 bed 2 bath and all originally marked band E. Approx 1/3 of occupants have contested and been moved down to band D, as I did (yeyyy:T), however the remaining ones are all still in band E. Annoying as they should have all been band D to begin with (due to original valuations) and most don't even know about it!

Wiltshire

Just like to thank you for the advice on your website. We have been successful in getting our tax band reduced from an E to a D and have now received a refund of just over £5,000 from our local council and of course a saving now of £350+ pa in the future.

Bobbobbobbob

I really wish Martin would stop banging on about this - another reminder in today's email. One of my neighbours challenged his band (Because he'd knocked two small bedrooms into one large bedroom - he'd thought that somehow this reduced the size of his house!) His claim was thrown out but as a result my house was reassessed and I was put up from a band D to a band E - we are very borderline and to prove that we were in band D in 1991 is proving to be tricky. It's taken me almost a year to fight this - and it is still going on, all the while I'm paying more tax. And the most annoying thing is I didn't start this and have felt it has been a massive intrusion of my privacy.
I wish Martin sometimes, just sometimes, shows a bit of intelligence and looks at all the ramifications before he spurges out some of the rubbish he comes out with. (You're NOT always better off switching energy suppliers (even when you've checked on a comparison site) because of the tiered rate energy suppliers charge - simple math!)
OK I know its not actually Martin all the time, but no doubt he'll tell everyone to check their house bands on radio and TV come April time.

Misty_Sky

Letter from Council came out of the blue!

Received a letter on Monday, saying that we have been in Band D since 1993, and should have been in Band C. A refund of the difference between each year's payment will be made directly into our bank account next Thursday. I rang to find out how this had come to light and was told that probably a neighbour had asked for a rebranding. So I think one of my neighbours is due a bunch of flowers or a bottle of wine from me as a thank you, when i find out who it was.
Although it's a great result, - I'm slightly disgruntled that interest is not paid on the refund. In 1993, we really struggled to pay our mortgage, and that extra money would have been handy. As the years went on, we would have put the extra money in the bank, and as interest rates were higher than they are now, it could have been a nice nest egg. Is that right, that you can't ask for interest on the back payment? If not, why not?

lincroft1710

Misty_Sky wrote: »

Is that right, that you can't ask for interest on the back payment? If not, why not?

There is no reference in CT legislation to paying interest on refunds of overpayments. Thus not only are councils not obliged to pay such interest, they would be criticised by the auditors if they did so.

vivatifosi

Bobbobbobbob wrote: »

I really wish Martin would stop banging on about this - another reminder in today's email. One of my neighbours challenged his band (Because he'd knocked two small bedrooms into one large bedroom - he'd thought that somehow this reduced the size of his house!) His claim was thrown out but as a result my house was reassessed and I was put up from a band D to a band E - we are very borderline and to prove that we were in band D in 1991 is proving to be tricky. It's taken me almost a year to fight this - and it is still going on, all the while I'm paying more tax. And the most annoying thing is I didn't start this and have felt it has been a massive intrusion of my privacy.
I wish Martin sometimes, just sometimes, shows a bit of intelligence and looks at all the ramifications before he spurges out some of the rubbish he comes out with. (You're NOT always better off switching energy suppliers (even when you've checked on a comparison site) because of the tiered rate energy suppliers charge - simple math!)
OK I know its not actually Martin all the time, but no doubt he'll tell everyone to check their house bands on radio and TV come April time.

You can't blame Martin for your own neighbour's stupidity. Unfortunately people make spurious claims. If you feel that you should not be paying that rate, find evidence and take it to tribunal. You can use local newspapers or go on the other thread (reductions) for advice if you need it. If you feel the rate is wrong, you have a six month time window to have a right to appeal at tribunal. Use it.

blackcountrykid

Local Borough Council: Cannock Chase
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: £5044.23
Annual saving going forward: £340

I have had confirmation of our 21 years of refunds, £1000 more than I had estimated. Once again thanks to martin and the MSE crew
:j