CT Valuation Appeal - Email saying they will raise a neighbour's rate.

austinjc

About to go into a valuation tribunal regarding council tax. Received an informal 2 line email from a VOA agent who is taking my case. It said that on the basis of my appeal they are starting proceedings to raise the rate of a specific neighbours house. I have some questions.

* Is this something they can do?
* Should they have emailed me about it in this way?
* Will they cite my appeal or disclose my name in any action they take?

Overall the email was intimidating. Feels like I am being roughed up a bit before my tribunal.

Any help much appreciated. I have a strong case for appeal, but now wish I'd never gone down this route. Can I complain?

lincroft1710

If VOA believe a CT band is incorrect, they can increase or reduce it at any time.

There is nothing wrong in keeping you informed of actions which may have some bearing on the forthcoming Tribunal. Unless you specifically asked that they do not communicate via e-mail, again they have done nothing wrong.

It is extremely unlikely that your name or appeal will be mentioned.

If the e-mail simply said they are increasing the band then this is hardly intimidating, it is stating a future action. I don't see how you are being "roughed up".

From what you have posted I can't see anything you could complain about. If you want to quote the e-mail verbatim (but omitting any addresses or names) I'll give a further opinion.

If you appealed on the basis that your neighbour's band was lower and it now appears that it was their band that was wrong, then I'm afraid that's just unfortunate and about the only downside in making an appeal.