Council Tax Rebanding advice needed please

twowheelrider

I don't know if I'm posting in the correct place, so I apologise if I have this wrong already (this is my first forum thread ever, not just on here)
I need some advice on how to proceed with my quest in having our council tax banding changed, please.
We bought our first home about a year and a half ago, a bungalow that needed a lot of renovating and we were doing the work oursleves whist working full time. In amongst everything else, I began my application to have our banding re-evaluated as we believe it is too high for the property. I filled in the necessary form and sent it off, I didn't put much time in to it as I was very uneducated on the subject and thought if I sent it off simply saying that we believed the band was wrong, they would send someone out to re-evaluate, realise it was wrong and just change it. I was obviously wrong. They replied and stated that the band was correct and it won't be changed. I took the answer as gospel and thought that's that then, at least I tried, I then carried on about my business being quite busy with everything else for the next few months.
I then saw Martin on This Morning discussing the subject in detail, it got me thinking and with more time on my hands now than before, and more knowledge on how to manage my request, I started doing my research to find actual evidence that we are in the wrong band. Of course, this far down the line I was well past the timeframe given to appeal the decision, so I had to send in my appeal along with an application to extend the timeframe to have it looked at in. A couple of months later I have had my appeal declined because I don't have a satisfactory reason to extend the timeframe (the reason I gave was as I've explained here, because there is no other reason unfortunately.
My question is, what can I do now to get someone to look at it? I believe I found enough evidence to prove the change is needed, but I don't know who I can go to next.
Many thanks in advance for any help that can be offered!

MovingForwards

There is a huge thread about council tax rebanding which should answer all your questions.

twowheelrider

Thank you for your response, I have had a look but couldn't find anything, I don't suppose you could send me the link to it could you?

MovingForwards

Have a nose through this subforum

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/346119/council-tax-rebanding-success-stories&highlight=rebanding

MovingForwards

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=187

Hopefully this one takes you to the subforum

Hoploz

I applied for this some years ago. I had all the evidence Martin Lewis suggested and it all pointed to our band being reduced. However they said no so that was that. I conclude from that they make up the rules ... So even if you'd done it within the time frame there is nothing to say you'd have been successful anyway.

elmer

if you applied to the council, its not surprising they turned you down as they dont have any say in rebanding, you apply to the VOA in England and the SAA in Scotland.

Perhaps if you send your proposal to them you may be successful?

twowheelrider

The process I have followed is through the VOA !!!128513; they're the ones that have declined my application to extend the time frame for the appeal process, unfortunately.

twowheelrider

Thank you all for your input. I have called the VOA today to say I'm not happy with being declined and I'd like to take it further as I know I'm in the wrong band based on the research I've done, I have been told to reply to the email that I have from them declining me and been told that someone will reply with an answer this week, hopefully. I'll keep this post updated in case it can help anyone else in the future.

lincroft1710

If you are basing your request on the fact you paid a low price for your home because it needed work, then it will probably fail as CT bands cannot take into account disrepair.

As far as I am aware (and things may have changed since I was in the VOA) there is no scope to make a valid proposal outside the 6 months time limit.

CIS

I'm not aware of any facility to make a valid proposal after the 6 month period. Outside of the 6 months any tribunal appeal would be rejected as invalid (this is the difference between council tax appeals and banding appeals - there is no time limit on making the council tax equivalent of a valid proposal)

The Valuation Tribunal England technical manual makes the point clear
"Although the President of the Valuation Tribunal has the power to authorise an extension of the time limit for making an appeal, providing he is satisfied that the failure of the appellant was caused by reasons outside of their control, the President has no power to extend the time period when proposals can be made."