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Council tax has gone down...?

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I just noticed my council tax amount has gone down this year (same band though). Which is great! But am wondering if it's normal for it to drop? Esp when the property has increased in value and the area has become a little more popular?

And, if this is based on the council re-evaluating the details of my property (a flat in an ex-council, owned by my housemate), does this mean we were overpaying the last few years? If so, is it standard to ask for some sort of rebate?

Forgive me if I sound like an idiot - am sure the answer is no, but wanted to check - don't want to ask the council directly in case it somehow prompts them to increase the cost again! :D

Comments

  • notbritishgas
    notbritishgas Posts: 2,314 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    As above pigs will fly before CT goes down, unless you suddenly receive CT benefit.
    Are you by any chance looking at your monthly payment amount and they have changed from a 10 month payment to a 12 monthly one.
  • jojebauk
    jojebauk Posts: 16 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    That's what I thought too - because the band hasn't changed or anything. I first noticed when my monthly DD went out as £12 less than usual. Then got my council tax statement for this year and while it didn't mention changes, the annual amount had gone down.

    But have just stumbled upon an article (won't let me post it) that says there are some cuts made this year... as well as increases in places... so wonder if that's it?:

    "Next week marks the start of the 2015/16 tax year, and with it comes all sorts of adjustments to your council tax bill (or rates if you're in Northern Ireland).

    Some councils are freezing their council tax, some are even cutting it, but most of us will be facing a larger bill. We've taken a look at what the councils are doing and what it means for your money.

    Council tax in England
    The government has set aside £550 million to help councils in England cope with freezing council tax in 2014/15 as well as in 2015/16.

    Not every council has taken up the offer though, which is why the average Band D council tax level for the coming tax year has increased by 1.1%. In cash terms that means the average bill for 2015/16 is now £1,484, £16 more than the current tax year.

    In total 241 out of 421 authorities have opted to freeze council tax over 2015/16 and will receive a grant from the government. That's 10 fewer than 2014/15."
  • elmer
    elmer Posts: 936 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic
    A reduction of £12.00 sounds like you now have a 12 month DD instead of 10 months, call your council to check

    elmer
  • GingerBob_3
    GingerBob_3 Posts: 3,659 Forumite
    It would be exceptional indeed if the amount of money your council steals off you has come down. They'll always find some way to criminally waste your money. The 10 month to 12 month explanation could well be the reason.
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    elmer wrote: »
    A reduction of £12.00 sounds like you now have a 12 month DD instead of 10 months, call your council to check

    elmer
    GingerBob wrote: »
    The 10 month to 12 month explanation could well be the reason.

    If the OP's words are to be taken at face value then this is clearly not the reason as s/he writes in post #4 "the annual amount had gone down".

    OP, if you tell us which council it is and what band the property is in we can take a look at the publicly available information to see if there is an explanation given that you have missed.
  • jojebauk
    jojebauk Posts: 16 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    Exactly, thank you - it is the annual amount. I was always paying a 12 month bill. This is for Tower Hamlets and band B.
  • notbritishgas
    notbritishgas Posts: 2,314 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 23 May 2016 at 11:56AM
    jojebauk wrote: »
    Exactly, thank you - it is the annual amount. I was always paying a 12 month bill. This is for Tower Hamlets and band B.
    so is your annual cost £930?

    Edit: It would appear your council tax increased by 1.4% ish this year. Last year it was £918.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Was last years demand notice only for a full year ? - did it by chance cover a longer period (i.e include a balance from a previous year).

    The band charge hasn't reduced

    16/17 £930.89
    15/16 £918.00
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • strong8096
    strong8096 Posts: 70 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    they re banded ours to a band A this year but our council tax is exactly the same as what we paid last year at B
  • jojeba
    jojeba Posts: 82 Forumite
    Actually, this makes me wonder if I was paying a 10 month payment last year, rather than 12 month... I am certain I paid every month. But I didn't keep my bills as it was all set up as a DD and I was trying to be frugal with paperwork! :doh:
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