Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

lincroft1710

SouthernGuy wrote: »

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

Council will be automatically informed.

lifesarainbow

Local Borough Council: Chelmsford, Essex
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: £183.90
Annual saving going forward: £331 p.a.


My refund is lower than most reported on the site because I challenged my banding only a few months after I moved into the property. I followed all the advice here and was (eventually) successful.

My first challenge was refused, but I noticed in their refusal letter that they referred to my property as detached. It is actually semi-detached, but I couldn't convince them of that because they were looking at the builders original plans which showed it as detached. I eventually persuaded them to come round and have a look. Then of course they changed their decision and my challenge was successful.

Apparently, towards the end of a development, builders often find their original measurements/calculations are slightly out and the last few houses have to be 'squashed' into less land. One way they do that is to join two (intended) detached properties into a pair of semis and, although the Council's Building Control department know that's happened, they don't actually send revised plans on to the Council Tax Banding section (Valuation Office). That's what happened here.

So go for it everyone. Follow the directions on here, read the stickies, do the research (I did mine in 1 evening) then start your challenge. Persevere and check carefully how they refer to your property in their letters and paperwork. They do make mistakes.

Thank you to all the wonderful MSE angels who keep this site going. Don't know what I'd do without you! :A :T

mspritch

Local council: Powys
Band before: E
Band after: D
Amount refunded: £1318.13 (I think)
Annual saving: £283.64 (less 25% single occupancy discount)

Didn't need to phone or write a letter, the following (redacted) email did the job
Anyone considering a valuation appeal, feel free to use my email as a template, that's what it's here for. Good luck!

To: ctwales [@] voa.gsi.gov.uk
Subject: Council tax banding enquiry
I’m not sure if this is the correct contact address, but I’ve got a query regarding the council tax banding for my home, specifically in relation to similar neighbouring properties which are in a different band.

The street concerned is *****, *****, Powys, postcodes *** *** and *** ***.
My property is *****, *****, *****, Powys *** ***, LA reference 3100200000********.

All of the houses opposite mine (the *** *** side of the street) are band C, but they’re of completely different construction (Victorian terrace) so I’m just mentioning those for the sake of completeness.

In *** ***, however:-

3100200000******** ****** is band D. Three bedrooms. Since construction in the early ‘60s it’s gained a chunk of garden to the rear and a small conservatory.

3100200000******** ******* is now business premises, I don’t know what its original CT band would’ve been. Much newer but similar build to ****** (presumably 3 bedrooms), detached garage to the side converted to a storeroom.

3100200000******** **** (my property) was originally built as ******’s “identical twin” (they’re both former police houses). Since construction it’s gained a one-room extension to the side and a detached garage. This, however, is band E.

3100200000******** ********** is the only other property in the street that’s band E, but it has three storeys and (I believe) six bedrooms, and is the biggest single property in the street (there are larger ones but they’re split into flats).

Across town is another former police house, a mirror image version of ****** and ****. 3100200014******** * ****** **** *** ***, this is also band D.

I know there’s got to be a cutoff point between one band and the next, however I feel that my house is far closer in specification to ******, ******* and * ****** **** than it is to the enormous ********** at the top of the hill. If you wish to take a look on Google Street View, here’s the link: <link>
The link will take you straight to **********, to the right is ******, then **** (with the conker tree outside), then *******. <link> will take you to * ****** ****.

I’m unfortunately well aware of the six-month time limit on formal banding challenges, however I believe there’s no time limit on the VOA checking to see that it was banded correctly in the first place. If you could take a look at the properties mentioned above and let me know if there’s anything that can be done about the banding of mine, I’d be grateful.

Yours Faithfully,

******************

The email was sent in March, I received a letter two days later acknowledging receipt. This morning I received a notice of alteration, from band E to band D and backdated to May 2008.

Reason code 6: There was an inaccuracy in the list caused by a clerical or valuation error that has now been rectified.

UPDATE - just received a new (and very convoluted) council tax bill, which has gone from me owing them £1,053 (one payment already made at Band E this year) to them owing me £265.13, plus the rest of the CT paid off for the year. I'm happy with that

Lollymoly

Camden council - band F to E
I've known about claiming back council tax for a while but it never seemed to apply to us. But after moving into a new property in September of last year, our downstairs neighbour mentioned (quite kindly I may add) to my husband about having challenged her band and that we should look into it.

Our two properties are identical so if she had it changed, we should too. I completed the form for the VOA but after nearly 4 months I still hadn't heard anything from them. They claimed I never sent it - although I had email proof.

Anyway long story short when they finally managed to see my form they sorted everything out within a couple of weeks and reduced the band. So I called Camden council today to check they knew and to sort out the back payment refund. They offset it against our future payments and now with the reduction and back payment refund, our payments have gone from £196pm to £114pm!!!!

SO HAPPY! Thank you very much for all your wonderful advice and tutorials.

J_emptypurse

Chesterfield Borough Council
Previous Band E
New Band D

Refund £2500
Saving each year possibly £250

Something I read recently in an advert for a house for sale near us set me off looking into this. With the help of Martin Lewis website I was able to check that other homes similar to ours were in Band D. We have been in our home for 13 years always paying Band E. I followed the advice and after a nervous wait got the good news and money in the bank.

This is the second 'Martin Lewis' success this year - got a parking ticket cancelled for my son. Next job try to get some bank charges refunded for him. Thanks:)

jules1937

After 15 long years of trying to get council tax banding from D to a C it finally has happened. Have tried every year been to councellors and what a waste. So in Febuary done it again and what a major shock YEAH it happened Refund £2323


Thanks for this

Lynney666

Just had our banding moved from a D to a C, but our council have only refunded us for the past 10 years and we have lived here 15, since 1998.
The letter from the VOA said the banding was backdated to 1993.

Has anyone else only had 10 years worth of backdated refunds?

We are owed about another £600 on top of the £1600 they refunded and I feel a bit robbed.

lincroft1710

Lynney666 wrote: »

Just had our banding moved from a D to a C, but our council have only refunded us for the past 10 years and we have lived here 15, since 1998.
The letter from the VOA said the banding was backdated to 1993.

Has anyone else only had 10 years worth of backdated refunds?

We are owed about another £600 on top of the £1600 they refunded and I feel a bit robbed.

Just ask the council. There may be a good reason for the shortfall or they may have simply made a mistake.

Neil_13778

Hi iim wondering if anyone can help. I live in great wakering essex and have challenged my council tax banding.we moved into our house 9 years ago Whilst speaking to my neighbours I realised that I'm the only one in tax band D. The 15 houses either side are in band c. We are all in semi detached pairs. I contacted the voa with this and 8 weeks later got a letter back saying that I wouldn't be rebanded. My house was extended in the 80's(before council tax was introduced) and in their opinion it's correct. Quite a few houses have been extended since council tax came into effect and are still in band c, So basically I'm getting penalised for having work done in the 80's. I want to challenge this but don't know where to go. Please help. Neil

lincroft1710

Neil_13778 wrote: »

My house was extended in the 80's(before council tax was introduced) and in their opinion it's correct. Quite a few houses have been extended since council tax came into effect and are still in band c, So basically I'm getting penalised for having work done in the 80's. I want to challenge this but don't know where to go. Please help. Neil

You are not being "penalised". Under CT legislation all dwellings are valued with regard to their physical state as at 1 Apr 1993 or if later, the date of their last sale. So it is correct in law to include 1980s extensions and you cannot challenge this.

CT legislation does not permit a band to be increased on account of extensions or alterations carried out by the current owner. Therefore the CT bands of your neighbours' homes can't be increased until they are sold.