Are porches classed as home extensions?

harmony56

I recently discovered that the property I live in, a Wimpey Semi- detatched, has been wrongly banded "E" instead of "D" by the Authority Council tax board and many of my neighbours have appealed and received an alteration to their tax band and have been reimbursed for the overpayments made since 1993! I have only recently applied to have my property assessed but am concerned that the side porch I had built as a draft excluder in 1991, because my house sits on a corner and is very exposed to winds,will be classed as an "extension" and if so I will not be entitled to have my council tax band changed, as properties with home extensions and loft conversions are not classed as "Band D". My porch is 4 square metres and built of brick. has anyone any advice they can give me, please?

lincroft1710

If the construction of the porch is similar to that of the house then the area of the porch will be included as living accommodation. Whether an additional 4 sq m will take you into a Band E, only the VOA (Eng and Wales) or Assessor (Scot) will know.

A single brick porch is unlikely to have much effect on value, so unless a standard house falls right on the Band D max it is doubtful such a structure would affect the band.

There is nothing you can do about this so my advice would be just wait and see what happens.

harmony56

Thanks lincroft1710!
I know that it IS only a single brick porch cos my brother who's a quantity surveyor said the cowboys who built should have put "double core"(??) brick walls as the insulation is very poor and in winter it's cold and that's with a radiator in it too! Should I mention this to the assessor who is coming to see the house on 14th June? Do you also know what month in 1991 the prices of houses are checked from as having read MANY of the answers on this forum today, everyone keeps talking about 1991 being significant! my porch was started in December 1991 but with the catalogue of blunders made by the builders-burst water pipes being one of them- it wasn't completed 'til January 1992.

lincroft1710

1 April 1991 is the date that is used for CT valuations but 1 April 1993 (or date of last sale if this is later) is the date used for the physical state of the dwelling.

So as your porch was completed prior to 1 April 1993 it can be reflected in the CT band.

Definitely point out the standard of construction to the assessor.