Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

Keoking

Local Borough Council: Hyndburn
Council Tax Band Before: C
Council Tax Band After: B
Amount refunded: None yet but waiting (see below)
Annual saving going forward: £160/year

Started the ball rolling last year but was rejected for a downgrade. A bit more research and found out that the house next door was made a "B" from a "C" when it was sold. Re-submitted saying what I'd found and result!!!!!! Downgraded and back-dated to 1993. I reckon they owe me £1513 (+ interest???) over the last 14 years.

Got cheque for £1513 a bit later, then put in for interest payment.

It IS possible to get interest paid on your rebate. I was refunded £1513 earlier this year for over-payments going back to 1985, reduced to a Band B from a Band C, and have just had a cheque today for £381 interest on the over-payments over the years. Get in touch and persist; it's your right under laws mentioned elsewhere in this forum. It's up to the Valuation Office to get it right and compensate you.

Keith1956

Hi Keoking

I am very glad you have also got your interest money back. I thought I was the only one as I haven't seen any other posts about it.

If anyone else has received a sizeable refund from their local Council then it is well worth doing. It's easy to do as well. Please see my earlier posts for details.

Keith

bantams_2

Local Borough Council: Leeds
Council Tax Band Before: F
Council Tax Band After: E
Amount refunded: £2600.00
Annual saving going forward: £260.00 in 07/08

Thanks to Martin for the advice, checked our banding on VOA website. It wasn't obvious at first as we live in a mixed housing area, on looking further it quickly became obvious we were a band higher than we should have been. It was then a matter of persuading the Valuation Office that this was the case.

Catnip_2

Dover Council
Was Band F
Now Band E
Refund £2465 :beer:
Annual saving this year £296.67

Thanks Martin for making this so easy. :T

elisamoose

South Kesteven District Council(LIncs)
Was band G now band F

We thought we were banded correctly but then realised that our valuation was incorrect. The house is part of an old farmhous which was empty for 15 years prior tp renovation in 2001 when we bought it from the developer.The council had based the valuation on its valur in 2000 not its perceived worth in 1991.We also found that the other half of the house was in a lower band and that we were listed as a 6 bedroomed detached house ( we are actually a 4 bed semi!)
After a visit from valuation guy , we were downgraded and refunded almost .6 years of council tax.We have nothing to pay until next June !!!

dunnomate

Ok - here's my problem. I am band F, two neighbours are band E and pending (due to the fact they had extensions 4 years ago). They now have the same size house as me - due to the building. Can I complain to the council to get me downgraded - i.e. E pending ! Or, when the hell are they going to have to pay more council Tax - they have been pending for OVER 4 years !!!!

venablpm

Local Borough Council: Swindon
Council Tax Band Before: Band C
Council Tax Band After: Band B
Amount refunded: £842.20

Moved in to my house in April 1999 and following the guidelines on the site I thought why not and found that many houses were in Band B, but just put my higher banding down to a modest extension by the previous owner.
Initially told no by the VO because it was not within 6 months of becoming a taxpayer (like an 18 year old with his 1st mortgage would think to do that!!). They said I could appeal the decision within 2 weeks but I didn't have time so thought oh well nevermind.....
Around 5 weeks later I recieved a letter again from the VO telling me the initial valuation was wrong and they were backdating it to 1993, what a result!!!

Keep up the good work Mr Lewis
:money:

bigbobperth2

Local Borough Council:Perth and Kinross
Council Tax Band Before:Band E
Council Tax Band After:Band D
Amount refunded:£3,115

We have been in this house since new and have contacted 12 or so people that have since moved on and now they are claiming this money back, now it might be just my luck but got a letter today saying my bin is too full and in future they will charge extra for empting it

---

won't cost £3115 tho!!!!!

colliedog_2

We moved into our house in MACCLESFIELD in 1992 and just accepted that we were in Band E, I recently checked what my neighbours are paying and they are also in Band E. However I found out that the banding was based on the value of the house in 1991 (between 88,000 and 120,000) and we paid 86,000 in 1992 and on that basis I was successful when I applied to be re-banded. The house was in a pretty run down condition when we bought it though. We have received over £2,800 back from the council. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Lizzy_Dripping

Wolverhampton Borough Council
Band C

After watching the Trevor McDonal Tonight programme and following Martin's instructions we found that although our property was Band C properties around us were Band B. I launched an appeal but were refused and advised case would go to Tribunal. About 10 days prior to tribunal hearing VOA telephoned to see if we were still going to attend hearing. They then advised that it would not be in our interest and to enter a second appeal. I was very suspicious and indicated we would still go to Tribunal. After further discussions on telephone we agreed not to go to Tribunal and to enter a second appeal. I wrote a further letter detailing all the properties in our street that were Band B and inserting photos in the relevant places of our house and the neighbouring houses.

We succeeded and the banding has been reduced from C to B and backdated to 1993. We do not have to pay any council tax for the rest of the year and have received a refund of £890.

Thank you Martin - I have just retired and my husband is about to retire. As council tax goes up in percentages the gap between B & C will increase each year and we need to limit our expenses. When I saw the programme I had no idea it would be relevant to us but your guidance has been invaluable.

:beer: