Should I try to get my council tax band changed?

akira181

I live in Scotland and my girlfriend and I recently purchased our first flat. I done a quick check and the majority of properties on my street are band C. My flat is also band C. However, I live in flat 2/1 and flat 2/1 in the buildings to the right and left of mine are band B.

I done a valuation check and according to ScotLIS, my flat sold for £37,000 in December 1989, £78,000 in November 2001, £153,000 in May 2006, and £186,000 in November 2018.

At some stage in the last 5 years, the flat was modified to have an internal kitchen and the old kitchen turned to an extra bedroom, which I assume increased the value.

I have no idea what the layout of the 2/1 flats to the left and right of me are like. The last thing I want is for mine or my neighbours bands to increase. Is it worth challenging it or best to leave it?

lincroft1710

Since you don't know what the layouts of the other 2/1 flats are, you can't realistically use them as a comparison. I know nothing about how Scottish house prices have performed in the past 30 years so cannot give an informed opinion.

If you passionately feel the CT band is wrong, then appeal, there is the possibility the other 2/1 flats are in too low a band and could be increased, but that is something you will have to accept.

akira181

I'd say Glasgow house prices have been pretty strong for the last 10 years, increasing slowly. Prices are not as high as they were in 2006 but the property bubble drove prices unrealisticly high back then. Rightmove claims the average price is down 36% compared to 2006 and up 9% in the last few years.



I've tried looking for the layouts of the other 2/1 flats but they've not been on the market recently so I can't find any old home reports. I was hoping someone with experience of getting their band changed could make a recommendation but I think it's probably too risky and might end up getting my band increased.

CIS

akira181 wrote: »

I'd say Glasgow house prices have been pretty strong for the last 10 years, increasing slowly. Prices are not as high as they were in 2006 but the property bubble drove prices unrealisticly high back then. Rightmove claims the average price is down 36% compared to 2006 and up 9% in the last few years.



I've tried looking for the layouts of the other 2/1 flats but they've not been on the market recently so I can't find any old home reports. I was hoping someone with experience of getting their band changed could make a recommendation but I think it's probably too risky and might end up getting my band increased.

It is rare in these case for bands to be increased as, if there is an error, it is almost always that is over banded rather than under banded.

lincroft1710

As Scottish CT Band C starts at £35,001 and you paid £186,000, then if house prices haven't increased by more than 5 times since 1991 then your band is worth appealing.

akira181

lincroft1710 wrote: »

As Scottish CT Band C starts at £35,001 and you paid £186,000, then if house prices haven't increased by more than 5 times since 1991 then your band is worth appealing.

Now that I see it written like that, I've just realised that when the flat sold for £37,000 in 1989 (can't imagine house prices like that anymore!), that would have made it Band C already.

Even if house prices dropped in those 2 years, it would still be borderline Band C. No point taking a long shot to challenge it and risk getting the neighbours put up.