Bought my house 5th June 2013 VO office wants to call

Cats_are_great

I hope someone has some advice!!

I have just received a letter for the Valuations office telling me they understand that the previous owners had extensions to the property and want to revalue my house.

The alterations are a garage conversion with shower room, a kitchen extension (7" by 10"). Could these changes increase my council tax band? I thought garage conversions were exempt from council tax band increases and the kitchen extension isn't massive.

The extensions were done in 2006/7.

Help!!!! Please

family6

I think it varies from council to council, rules regarding charges for empty properties do.
Last year we had our house rearranged and extension, 2+ dodgy loft room to a 5 bedroom (loft done, front bedroom split into two small rooms, ext over kitchen for this interested) terraced house. The council wrote to say we would stay in our current band but this would change if we sold it. Sorry this is not what you want to hear.

Furts

Yes this does happen.

Just to be sure, enter your postcode and street number on the Valuation Agency website and click checking Council Tax bandings. If you see a "i" listed against your home this has been highlighted in the past for an update when the house had a new purchaser.

If you find this there is nothing you can do - other than negotiate, or grovel, with the officer doing the inspection!

Now, if it was not listed as such that is a different matter...

lincroft1710

family6 wrote: »

I think it varies from council to council, rules regarding charges for empty properties do.
Last year we had our house rearranged and extension, 2+ dodgy loft room to a 5 bedroom (loft done, front bedroom split into two small rooms, ext over kitchen for this interested) terraced house. The council wrote to say we would stay in our current band but this would change if we sold it. Sorry this is not what you want to hear.

The VOA will usually inspect a dwelling where alterations have been carried out after it has been sold as the CT band cannot be increased on account of alterations carried out by current owner post 1 Apr 1993. The decision on increasing the banding has nothing to do with the council.

family6

lincroft1710 wrote: »

The VOA will usually inspect a dwelling where alterations have been carried out after it has been sold as the CT band cannot be increased on account of alterations carried out by current owner post 1 Apr 1993. The decision on increasing the banding has nothing to do with the council.

Yes, sorry your right, I've had a lot of dealings with the counil re council tax lately in another matter I just automically typed council. It was the Valuation Office that wrote to us re our property not being revalued for banding purposes until we sell.

family6

Furts wrote: »

Yes this does happen.

Just to be sure, enter your postcode and street number on the Valuation Agency website and click checking Council Tax bandings. If you see a "i" listed against your home this has been highlighted in the past for an update when the house had a new purchaser.

That is useful to know.

BTW
Could anybody tell me how to do the multiple quotes rather than having to do 2 posts?

lincroft1710

Furts wrote: »

Yes this does happen.

Just to be sure, enter your postcode and street number on the Valuation Agency website and click checking Council Tax bandings. If you see a "i" listed against your home this has been highlighted in the past for an update when the house had a new purchaser.

If you find this there is nothing you can do - other than negotiate, or grovel, with the officer doing the inspection!

Now, if it was not listed as such that is a different matter...

Even if it wasn't listed the VOA can increase or reduce a CT band at any time if the believe it is incorrect. However the band cannot be increased on account of any post Apr 1993 alterations carried out by the current owner.

As the person inspecting won't know whether or not the band is likely to increase until they check the details back at their office (and may not be the person who does the actual valuing) you can't negotiate and its pointless grovelling.

SuzieSue

family6 wrote: »

That is useful to know.

BTW
Could anybody tell me how to do the multiple quotes rather than having to do 2 posts?

Next to the quote icon there is an multi quote icon, click that for each of the quotes and then click the quote icon.