Council tax band differences

IHateDida

Hi - I wonder if anyone can give me any advice. I am quite interested in putting an offer in on a house that is being advertised as "currently in council tax band c". However, I know the current owners have extended in the past - not that much - but enough to provide probably an extra bedroom, ensuite bathroom, a double garage and a little more lounge. Its also an ex-council - so by no means a mansion......!

On the VOA website - it says that the council tax band is G:eek::eek::eek: - the highest in the street - and as I understand - this will only apply once the property is sold due to the extension. I honestly thought it would be no more than a band D - I nearly died when I saw it was on their website as a G!!!!

My question is how on earth can a property move from C to G with only a moderate extension and can anything be done about this before putting in an offer? (as I couldn't afford the huge amount that band G attracts and will have to walk away if this is the case - and I couldn't take the risk after buying that any council tax appeal was rejected so would need some assurance before putting in an offer that it wasn't going to be band G!!!!).

I have looked at the neighbours who have also had a similar extension and that is an F - but again I don't think they have moved since adding it - so the extent to which it is correct - I don't know.

Thank you!

CharlieBilly

Poor attempt a humour

1 star out of 5

kee2011_uk wrote: »

Get someone in to have a look at it. Simply give your local paint and decorator a bell and ask what they can do. Sometimes they can paint the room to make it look smaller and therefore you might be able to disguise it.

It's well worth the money. I got my bathroom painted black and sometimes people don't even notice it's there. I removed the light switch and people just think it's a really big hole in the wall. Only cost £300 too, which is less than half the amount you'll save.

If all else fails, grab a hammer and just start breaking up the extension. If you don't want it you don't have to have it, you're the buyer remember.

poppysarah

You can appeal banding changes and I assume if you can show the other house with similar size extension is only an F.

In £ per year what does it mean?

amblondon

Reduce your offer to take account of the incremental council tax charge.

lincroft1710

Something is wrong here. If the house is shown as Band G on the VOA website then it is currently in Band G and present owners will be paying Band G.

Are you in Wales, as Bands F and G seem excessively high for ex council properties.

The phrase "currently in council tax band c" would appear to be a misprint.

mustrum_ridcully

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Something is wrong here. If the house is shown as Band G on the VOA website then it is currently in Band G and present owners will be paying Band G.

Are you in Wales, as Bands F and G seem excessively high for ex council properties.

The phrase "currently in council tax band c" would appear to be a misprint.

Weren't property values for council tax re-evaluated/re-banded in Wales about 5 years ago?

IHateDida

poppysarah wrote: »

You can appeal banding changes and I assume if you can show the other house with similar size extension is only an F.

In £ per year what does it mean?

Band G is just over £2500 - which might not seem alot but its just a an ex-council semi!!!! Its the most expensive place in the whole street and there are much grander detached houses - worth loads more than this house.

No, its not Wales either

IHateDida

amblondon wrote: »

Reduce your offer to take account of the incremental council tax charge.

Its the ongoing charge that will be the problem - C band is just under £1,400.

I am guessing its correct at currently band C - as the owners are the ones that had the extension done - hence why it hasn't changed for them yet - as it only changes once its sold.

But to go from a C to a G.......!:eek: Just wondered if anyone has ever known such a jump - I would understand possibly if a new property had been built on the land instead...but it hasn't!

I really like it too....but this will be the decider I just can't risk the valuation appeal being rejected. Just wondered if anything could be done by the vendor or myself before purchase?

real1314

These are the relevant valuations from 1991 (nothing has been reviewed since) and weightings (6 to 18)

Band A: up to £40,000 - 6
Band B: from £40,001 to £52,000 - 7
Band C: from £52,001 to £68,000 - 8
Band D: from £68,001 to £88,000 - 9
Band E: from £88,001 to £120,000 - 11
Band F: from £120,001 to £160,000 - 13
Band G: from £160,001 to £320,000 - 15
Band H: over £320,000 - 18

Hence, band H pays 3 times what band A pays and double what band D pays.
C to G sounds like a hell of a leap. If you assume a rough tripling of prices since 1991, you're looking at £150k-£210k for Band C, but £450k-£900k for Band G

lincroft1710

Wales did have a revaluation in 2005, bands are based on 2003 prices, Band F/G crossover being £223,000, which would make slightly more sense price wise.

Can you tell us what part of the country this house is situated and what the asking price is?

IHateDida

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Wales did have a revaluation in 2005, bands are based on 2003 prices, Band F/G crossover being £223,000, which would make slightly more sense price wise.

Can you tell us what part of the country this house is situated and what the asking price is?

East Anglia £250k