Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

lincroft1710

SaverSaver wrote: »

Do I leave them to get on with the review or do I send them a polite follow up letter with all the evidence that I have gathered to help them?

It would have been prudent to have mentioned both the houses which have lower bands when you asked for a band review. However VOA staff are quite capable of comparing your current band with those of neighbouring houses.

However if the VOA do not reduce your band you can draw their attention to these other two houses. But do be aware that the VOA can and do change their mind, especially if a different staff member is dealing with your request and decides to increase the bands of the other two houses back to the original higher band.

SaverSaver

It would have been prudent to have mentioned both the houses which have lower bands when you asked for a band review. However VOA staff are quite capable of comparing your current band with those of neighbouring houses.

Thanks for the quick reply, Sorry I did not give you all the info.
Here is some of the text from the email, letter and fax I sent to them:-

In brief my reasons for this belief are as follows:- 1. Our neighbour's house (xx yyyy Road,) which was exactly the same in design, condition and surface area has been reclassified as band D which is 1 band lower than we are in.
2. Using an online historic valuation tool, our house purchased in 1999 at £93,000 shows a valuation calculation as of 1991 as £79,066. Which is in the middle of band D.

Since the revaluation has now been given to an assessor do I contact them with details of the recent purchase which I did not mention, or am I best to wait for them to come to their own conclusion and in the event of them not reducing my banding I then give them the relevant info in an appeal?
Thanks for the ongoing help.

lincroft1710

VOA are sent details of nearly every property sale, so they should have the details. Although recent sales wouldn't be much help. Just and wait and see what they say.

Harveys_2

Local Borough Council: Wolverhampton
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: awaiting figure but about £5250 since 1991
Annual saving: About £300

I got told band e was correct after waiting 3 months. Called voa office who told me there was nothing else they could do and their evaluation was correct but did say if I could provide more information they would look into again.

So I persisted with whatever I thought was relevant....and today I got told the band was being reduced!

As this was going on I requested information from the council has to what council tax had been paid on the property as well as band d costs...so I worked out £5250 had been over paid !

So never give up! :j:beer::T

Allypally1981

I have been looking on gov.co.uk regarding telephoning the voa, and that they can adjust the council tax if they believe it is incorrectly banded, but it doesn't say that a backdated refund will be given, does anyone know If this is still the case?
Thanks

lincroft1710

If a CT band is reduced, then the council should refund any overpayment. However some councils will only refund a maximum of 6 years overpayment. The VOA cannot advise on refunds.

Harveys_2

Harveys wrote: »

Local Borough Council: Wolverhampton
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: awaiting figure but about £5250 since 1991
Annual saving: About £300

I got told band e was correct after waiting 3 months. Called voa office who told me there was nothing else they could do and their evaluation was correct but did say if I could provide more information they would look into again.

So I persisted with whatever I thought was relevant....and today I got told the band was being reduced!

As this was going on I requested information from the council has to what council tax had been paid on the property as well as band d costs...so I worked out £5250 had been over paid !

So never give up! :j:beer::T

Confirmed refund £5002 !! Thank you to this site !

Premierlady08

Complained about how I was treated the last time I enquired on behalf of my Mum. The man came out to "re measure" the house, which shocked him as the size was smaller than on the register. My Mum has just received the first letter stating she is no longer Band B, she has Band A! I have a huge amount of back dated "bills" to read through. Just to warn others, as My Mum was a bit upset to see my late Fathers name in her post. But she does know why, so she is delighted that we are finally getting somewhere. So far I have only had 2 phonecalls, 2 emails and 1 meeting in a short space of 2 months. Very happy I followed everything you had put here. Thank you. Now to see how much should be on it's way back to my Mum. :j

saachish

Hi,


I have been reading some of the success stories and sounds interesting and positive on the process. However can someone help me with the process to reclaim the council tax if you are not owning the property and are a tenant of that flat. How does that work? Can I submit the request for rebrand the council tax or the owner of the flat needs to do that?


Regards,
Sachin

lincroft1710

If you pay the Council Tax then you are the person who should apply for a CT reband, not the flat owner