Council tax band increase.

al25

Hi everyone.

Our council tax band has increased 2 levels after purchasing the property. The letter says that I have 6 months to challenge this increase.
I don't have a problem with the valuation if it was only increased one level up because the previous owner has done the loft with an ensuite.
Valuation office says that the garage also has been made habitable. What does that mean? It is used and has been used as a storage space and there is a desktop in there, no heating or radiators and definitely no beds or mattresses. I also plan to put our fridge/freezer in there.
Does anyone think it's worth appealing?
Thanks in advance.

libf

Does the garage still have a functional garage door or is it now only accessible from the house?

lincroft1710

Are the garage walls now plastered, has the door been removed and replaced with a wall and window. What you use the space for will not affect the band (unless for non residential purposes).

As there has been a 2 band increase, it is worth appealing but obviously no guarantee that you will get a reduction.

ellie27

Of course appeal, if you dont try you wont get!

We done ours online.

You just need to make sure you list all the reasons clearly why you dont think the band is correct.

If you can find similar size house near you on a lower band then list that too.

al25

libf wrote: »

Does the garage still have a functional garage door or is it now only accessible from the house?

Hi there, thanks for the reply. I'm afraid the garage no longer has a "Garage" door, only an entrance door.

al25

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Are the garage walls now plastered, has the door been removed and replaced with a wall and window. What you use the space for will not affect the band (unless for non residential purposes).

As there has been a 2 band increase, it is worth appealing but obviously no guarantee that you will get a reduction.

Morning, yes the garage walls are plastered except for a normal 3"x6" door.
Garage is now used for storage, the fridge freezer is in there too, one PC and a printer. It has no gas heating.

al25

ellie27 wrote: »

Of course appeal, if you dont try you wont get!

We done ours online.

You just need to make sure you list all the reasons clearly why you dont think the band is correct.

If you can find similar size house near you on a lower band then list that too.

Thanks for the advise, there is at least 2 neighbours one at least with 6-7 bedrooms a massive summer house and the other with 4bed,4bath, 4receptions.
They are 2-3 bands lower than me.

I'm under the impression that since they haven't sold their house after this massive renovation, valuation office will only value it after they are sold. Correct me if I'm wrong here. So I don't know if I can use that as leverage, besides, the last thing I want to do is upset my neighbours.

I would like to appeal, but I don't like the idea of someone from valuation office visiting, I have nothing to hide but unnecessarily panic that he/she might knit pick on something and the challenge prolongs etc.

martindow

Yes, the re-banding is triggered by the sale of a house as you've found. I wouldn't worry about annoying neighbours as the local authority is likely to consider any houses you put forward as comparables as a paper exercise.

You do need to choose examples of comparable houses that have not been extended recently to avoid large houses that still retain their original banding.

libf

al25 wrote: »

Hi there, thanks for the reply. I'm afraid the garage no longer has a "Garage" door, only an entrance door.

Then it now counts as room within the house instead of a garage, whether it's used for storage or not.

If there are other properties with loft and garage conversions which are lower bands and have changed hands since the conversions were done then you might have a chance of challenging it. Otherwise, possibly not.

lincroft1710

It is still worth challenging as you will eventually be told of the properties yours has been compared to, so you will be able to decide if your band still seems excessive.

The lack of heating would not hugely affect the value of the house, plug in heaters are relatively cheap.

al25

Thanks to everyone who answered,
Unfortunately the only recent sale was September 2013, he just finished a total rebuild with 4Beds, 3Bath and 4 reception Palace just 4 months ago and moved in with family, not likely to change hands anytime soon.
I think I'll keep shut and pay up.