Council tax tribunal?

anotherday1

I have appealed against my council tax banding being in band D for the following reasons (I think I should be in band C):

1) I am band D, but 3 new similar, but more valuable bungalows in my street are in band C (they were built in 2009 and mine was built in the 1960's).
2) I have revalued my purchase price back to 1991 and I should be in band B.
3) I have revalued 2 last sold prices back to 1991 and they should be in band C.

I have received an email from the VOA officer and he said two other similar properties in my street that were sold in 1991 and 1992 were at prices indicating band D, so therefore I am in the correct banding. He said the 3 new bungalows were 2 to 4 square metres smaller than mine, so that is why I am in a higher banding. We talking a couple drain manhold covers bigger! I have replied by saying:

1) The properties sold in 1991 and 1992 were superior to my property that included one having an attached garage, the other one having a garage in the garage block, both having more floor space due to extensions and both having bigger gardens. Overall, both properties they gave in evidence were superior and more valuable than mine. This was true in 1991 and now.
2) With regards to the new properties being 2 to 4 metres squared smaller, then I said this was not significant. In addition, the 3 new bungalows are more desirable and valuable for a long list of reasons including that they have allocated parking spaces and I don't. They would definitely go on the market at a higher price than mine.

* Do I have a case for going to Tribunal?
* Do I have to phrase my wording using legalistic language?
* do I have to pay for valuation reports?

In terms of background. I live in a road with twelve 1960's bungalows and some have attached garages, some have garages in a garage block and some have no garage like mine. The selling prices might look like they are prices for a set of identical apples, but they are prices relating to apples and pears due to significant differences including garages, etc. The 3 new bungalows built in 2009 have the similar floorspace and layout to mine, but they are gated with allocated parking, so they are more valuable and are in a lower banding.

Thanks,

lincroft1710

anotherday1 wrote: »

1 Do I have a case for going to Tribunal?
2 Do I have to phrase my wording using legalistic language?
3 do I have to pay for valuation reports?

1 Yes, but that doesn't mean the Tribunal will necessarily decide in your favour

2 No

3 No

anotherday1

I have spoken to the VOA officer allocated to my appeal and he has agreed to do a proper review within a month. I got across to him that the two properties that were sold in 1991 and 1992 at prices in band D were more valuable versions of my property. So they are not fair comparisons, since my property is worth less than the two sold. In addition, the 3 newly built and more valuable properties to mine in my street are also in band C. Hopefully I don't have to go to the tribunal!

If I go to tribunal, should I pay for an expert to confirm that the three newly built band C properties are more valuable than mine? In addition, should I get the expert to confirm that my property is worth less than the band D versions sold in 1991 & 1992 given no attached garage, no garage in the garage block, smaller front and back garden, less floor space, etc? How would I find such an expert and how much would it cost me?

lincroft1710

Don't bother with an "expert" if the differences between the properties are easily identifiable, which in your case they are.