Reclaim overpaid council tax

lincroft1710

PJChipB said:

I have found that ours is the only house in our street in Band G.
Further, our house was Band F before we moved in and was moved to Band G in Dec-2012 (we moved in at the end of Oct-2012).  I don't recall any correspondence about this at the time.  The street dates from the early 1960s with most houses changed over the years; several more so than ours.  Looking at the Council Tax history, there was no flag about development by the previous owner and from the information received on purchase most of the development on the house was prior to 1991.  
Following the steps in the MSE guide, I clearly pass Step 1.  However, Step 2 fails marginally with backtrack figure of £168K = G.  Comparing more recent sales prices, a few other houses also backtrack to G, but we are the only one that has been changed.
I am clearly too late for the 'within 6 months' challenge, but could perhaps ask for a review.  From what I have read, I need to submit evidence to the VOA at the time I contact them in order to do so.
Where I am at the moment, I just want to understand the reason for the increase following us moving in to see if that gives me anything that I can push back against.  Does anyone know if it is possible to ask for this and, if so, how to do it, please?

You can't "push back" at anything, even if you find the reason for the increase. The VOA can, if they have good reason, increase a CT band at any time, there does not need to be an Improvement Indicator.You may get an exact reason, you may get a generic "the existing band was considered too low"


They are now very limiting in the criteria they will accept to justify a band review, asking for details of sales between 1990 and 1994 (and do remember that in most areas house prices fell from 1991 to 1994). You can cite Band F houses which you consider are the same type and size as your home, but the downside is the VOA may decide to increase these bands.

psyllybetes

in 1991 my house was a Chapel, in 2008/9 it was converted to a single storey dwelling, is there any way to challenge my current banding?

lincroft1710

psyllybetes said:

in 1991 my house was a Chapel, in 2008/9 it was converted to a single storey dwelling, is there any way to challenge my current banding?

When did you move into the property and why do you think the current band is incorrect?

Rocha25

How do go about to challenge my council tax? What evidence do I need? I live in a block of flat on the 9th floor and I am in council band C. I found out  by checking the council tax in my areas that tenants above me on the 10th floor are in band B. Any advise and help please.

Rocha25

I live in London. I would like to get advise how to go about to challenge my council tax band. Many thanks

lincroft1710

Rocha25 said:

How do go about to challenge my council tax? What evidence do I need? I live in a block of flat on the 9th floor and I am in council band C. I found out  by checking the council tax in my areas that tenants above me on the 10th floor are in band B. Any advise and help please.

It may well be that sales evidence shows flats on the 10th floor and above sold for less than those on the 9th. What are the bands of the flats below you? Are the flats the same size? Can you find 9th floor flats of a similar size in nearby blocks in Band B? 

Rocha25

Hi Lincroft1710
 Thanks for your message and info. The block I live in belong to the council and most are council tenants. Just a few have bought their flat in the block. The flats on the 10th floor is the similar as mine 2 bedroom with kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and toilet. The bands of the flats below me are in band C similar as mine. All the flats in the block are of the same size as mine.

Rocha25

I did the neighbours check on the gov.uk and found out that the flats on the 10th floor are in band B and the other block as well. All the flats are similar in size.

lincroft1710

Rocha25 said:

I did the neighbours check on the gov.uk and found out that the flats on the 10th floor are in band B and the other block as well. All the flats are similar in size.

It looks like a decision was made that flats on the 10th floor and above should be in a lower band. As I suggested previously there may be sales evidence in other blocks that support this. Unless you can find a 2 bed 8th or 9th floor flat within (say) a 1 mile radius which is in Band B (and even if you do, there may be good reason that it is in Band B ) you have no evidence to request for a reduction to Band B

Rocha25

HI Lincroft1710

The flats in the block is of the same size as mine all are two bedroom flat. I doubted the tenants who live in those flats have shrink their flat to one bedroom. All the flats on the 10 floor are in band B???? I am puzzled.