Council Tax increase

Wallaby

Thanks for your comments lincroft1710,

Altho the supermarket was built in 1982, the homes that are adjacent to the supermarket are of the same Band as similar homes within a 2 mile radius. So, no allowances have been made for the supermarket being there.

It may not be that uncommon for homes to be next to a supermarket. But, it is uncommon for a supermarket car park to be placed within 25-ft from your front door.

Has any other reader had such an experience ?

Wallaby

Wallaby

isasmurf wrote: »

Council Tax bands are based on the open market value of your property in 1991. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are about to commence on a revaluation of all properties in England. This revaluation value will come into effect from 2007 for England, and will be based on the open market value of properties on 1st April 2005.
A revaluation exercise in Wales has already been carried out and they will see their new bands on this years Bills. In Wales the valuation date is 1st April 2003.

If the revaluation of property is based on the prices of property in 2005, then we're all in trouble... as property has dived since then !

We will be queuing up to make an appeal !!!

Hang on: It's 2009 now... what's happened to it ?

Wallaby

lincroft1710

Wallaby - the problem with banding (espec Band E and above) is that if a dwelling's value is near top of band, then even with an allowance for a disability it can still remain in same band. To give an extreme example, house worth £300K in Apr 91 (effective date for valuation for CT) in Band G (£160K - £320K). Across town, exactly same house but has disability which reduces value by £100K, so only worth £200K, but still also in Band G.

What would be useful to know is how many homes adjoin or are close to supermarket or car park, did any appeal their CT banding, have any been sold since April 1993.

Airwolf1

I was asked to take some photos of a busy main road, as someone had written in to say that the street had a lot of lorries and trucks on it all the time, due to several small industrial estates down the road - however, I don't know if they got a band reduction. It took me 5 minutes to get out of my car though!
I guess Wallaby could write in to the VOA putting his case forward, however, the supermarket was in existence at the time of the AVD and therefore one would assume the banding is correct, it may purely be a matter of saying that the property may not be worth as much as similar ones in the area, but not enough of a difference to warrant a reduction in banding.

lincroft1710

Wallaby - 2007 Revaluation was cancelled in Sep 2005, which enabled me (and others) to take early retirement (I'm ex VOA).

Although CT came into being in 1993, bands were calculated on property values as at 1 April 1991 (Antecedent Valuation Date), which were higher than in 1993. It makes no difference if house prices decrease or increase, the band will always be based on the price prevalent at the AVD.

Trevor64_2

Question: If I have an attachement to earnings order on my council tax but then just go and pay off the bill, does the order get revoked automatically?

CIS

Question: If I have an attachment to earnings order on my council tax but then just go and pay off the bill, does the order get revoked automatically?

The council would need to advise the company that the order has been settled. At this point (allowing for any payments which may be in the system already) the order should be stopped as the balance has been cleared - the Attachment Order is only valid against the Liability Order it was issued for.

Trevor64_2

CIS wrote: »

The council would need to advise the company that the order has been settled. At this point (allowing for any payments which may be in the system already) the order should be stopped as the balance has been cleared - the Attachment Order is only valid against the Liability Order it was issued for.

Thanks so much for that. There's another weight off

TheManwiththeStick

I arrived home from work to find a note from the 'Council Tax Inspection Team' to say that they called when I was out. Scrawled in pink highlighter pen on the back is 'Single Person Discount'. They want me to phone to arrange a time and date to "re-visit". They have never written to me. They've given me a number to call that I can't find on any council website, so I'm going to try a known council number to make sure that it's not a scam.

For the avoidance of doubt, I do live on my own and claim the discount legitimately. A friend visited for ten days or so last month, and three friends slept over after gathering, but that's about it. I've done nothing wrong and therefore having nothing to hide, but I'm clear what a "visit" consists of, why they're targeting me in particular, and what my rights are here.

I'm a bit worried, because although I've got absolutely nothing to hide, I really don't want council officials turning up at my house for a snoop through my home or subjecting me to a Spanish Inquisition. However, if I get defensive and start insisting on my rights to privacy and to know what's going on and why, there's a chance that all I end up doing is raise suspicions.

So... does anyone have any experience of this and have any advice to offer? What's the path of least resistance that'll give them whatever evidence they need to maintain my discount and leave me alone?

Or am I over-reacting to a fishing expedition that allows them to remove the discount from those who ignore the notification?

BillyWilly_2

My apologies TheManwiththeStick but I would like to jump on this thread and ask for different advise. I hope I don't detract info from heading your way.

My situation is that we have bought a new house which the VOA banded an F when it was built in 2003 which is extreme. Looking at all the other houses down the street (built between 2000 & 2007) which are banded mainly D's and E's are all of a similar size and build.

I looked at other streets of a similar nature in our town with houses selling for much less than what the VOA are saying our new house would have been worth in 1991.

I requested a reassessment offering evidence which was unfortunately turned down with no evidence and was advised I couldn't appeal.

Could anyone offer some advise as to where to go from here as the letter I received from the VOA was in all honesty, rude?

Thanks in advance.