Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

Happybunny1

Hi,

I'd like to thank Martin Lewis and this awesome site!

I was looking to see if there was a way to get cheap heating oil last November ( I was totally skint and worried about being able to heat my house over winter at the time) when I saw the article about rebanding.

I figured I had nothing to lose, and contacted Voa who sent out a form, which I duly filled in. To be honest I wasn't expecting much luck, but to my delight they agreed with me and rebanded my property from a C to a B!

Having overpayed for almost 17 years I have just been refunded (March 2014) over £2,100!!

This money will make the world of difference to me and my family, and it's all thanks to this site

So if you are reading this and thinking 'hmm, I may also be in the wrong band" I would urge you to check it out.

Once again, THANK YOU MARTIN!!!!

:beer:

glamourpug

Checking your council tax band was suggested, I think, as a New Year moneysaving exercise. I emailed the council, as our terraced house had its sticking-out bit removed before we moved in but after the council tax valuation. Council emailed back to say if we need more info or to visit, we'll get in touch. Result: £900 refund of 5 years' overpaid council tax. Result!

hjt_2

To be honest, I thought that our banding was quite marginal i.e. just scraping into the bottom of Band H. However, having done a bit more analysis of what my neighbours were paying, I did think that perhaps I should contact the VOA with a case. Not so easy, as these are all very different houses - not one the same and not easy to compare.

Result:

Rebanded to Band G.
Ongoing saving £500+ per annum
Rebate......wait for it.....

£6,500 (going back to 1996) :j:j:j

Of course, not a rebate, but returning my money paid in error. Not the best saving scheme I have had, but great to get a lump sum like this back into my bank in these tight times,

I would advise anyone to go for this if there is even the slightest doubt. Thanks for the advice,

try_try_again

Just to let you know to try again if you have failed in the past.
I liive within Rossendale Borough Council District and tried to get my new build rebanded in 2007 as it was two bands higher than my neighbour - this was rejected however I have recently checked the Valuation Office for my street and realised that the larger houses on the estate built after mine and some the same type as mine were in the same band and a lower band respectively. I contacted the Valuation Office and spoke to a very helpful person who advised an inspector would get back to me - which they did, the same day, I explained my plight and also that I had been in a disabled reduction through this time so even though a D band I had only been paying a C band but this had recently gone back to D due a change in my circumstances.
The valuation officer arranged to come out and view the estate as he reviewed the plans (which were incorrect!) and after looking at the actual site realised that yes, I was in the incorrect band and have now been changed to a C band and have also been advised that I will still receive a refund down to a band B for the relevant years that the disabled reduction applied.
I am currently waiting for the refund from 2006 to present, not sure how much it will be but better back in my pocket after stuggling to pay it some months.
The moral of this story is if you have been rejected in the past, give it another whirl - you may be successful :A

JasonCooke

Edit after posting, just seen there is a specific thread for this Q, I've posted there as well, delete this if required.

Apologies if this Q is in the wrong section. I live in a block of 13 apartments, built in 2005 and at the time valued at £130K, Band B. Late 2008 they were valued at £90K and 2010 to present valued at £70K. The VOA have declined my request for review. Is there legs in complaining as I'm not sure what the rules are over loss of value?

Thanks
J

Pippajane1010

Hi, Great to read all these success stories. I live in a 1 bedroom flat built in 1995. Have checked several sites to find out what the market price would have been had it been around in '91 and the average is £27k and therefore falls into Band A. However, I am in band B and so too are other 1 bedroom flats in my block. I have been advised by the valuation office to find a comparative flat within 2 miles that is in Band A and they will investigate but without that, even being aware of my property's value in 1991 they are not interested. I am struggling to establish what are other one bedroom flats locally and what the sale price would have been back in '91. I have queried this with the valuation office and they cannot help me. Can anyone shed any light on how I can do this?
Feedback would be appreciated, Thanks:rotfl::j

lincroft1710

Two ways to find blocks of flats, Google Maps Streetview and either walk/ride/drive round the area looking for blocks of flats. Note the addresses and names of the blocks, then go on to the council tax website and look up the bands.

You can find asking prices of flats by looking at archived property sales ads in local newspapers.

What did your flat sell for in 1995?

JasonCooke

Pippajane1010 wrote: »

Hi, Great to read all these success stories. I live in a 1 bedroom flat built in 1995. Have checked several sites to find out what the market price would have been had it been around in '91 and the average is £27k and therefore falls into Band A. However, I am in band B and so too are other 1 bedroom flats in my block. I have been advised by the valuation office to find a comparative flat within 2 miles that is in Band A and they will investigate but without that, even being aware of my property's value in 1991 they are not interested. I am struggling to establish what are other one bedroom flats locally and what the sale price would have been back in '91. I have queried this with the valuation office and they cannot help me. Can anyone shed any light on how I can do this?
Feedback would be appreciated, Thanks:rotfl::j

Keep me posted please if you have any luck with this. I'm struggling to be honest. This site suggests its all based on price, the VOA refute this. I wouldn't be surprised if they're on bonus, the more they resist and the less they change, the bigger the bonus. VOA, PLEASE DO YOUR JOB! ...and relax.

lincroft1710

JasonCooke wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if they're on bonus, the more they resist and the less they change, the bigger the bonus.

I shall be very annoyed if the VOA are on a bonus, because we never had such a scheme when I worked there!

SouthernGuy

Success!

East Sussex
Previous band D
New Band C

I moved into my property end of Feb. I read the info on here and checked my post code to find that my property was the only one on band D with several identical properties on the lower band C.

I filled out the online form and got a letter through saying that they would look into it and might require a visit.

I've now received a letter (no visit) from the VOA stating that they have reviewed my case and are lowering my band to C :-)

They say they have included extra info but I guess they've left the leaflet out.

They also say they now will make a change to the list entry and write to confirm when this has been done.

Do I need to do anything else or will the council automatically be informed?

Many thanks all at MSE, keep up the good work...

SouthernGuy