Council Tax band challenge timeline

harshitguptaiitr

How long does it really take to get an outcome from VOA for the council tax band challenge?

Also if unfortunately the neighbours band go up (rather than mine going down), how will the neighbours know that I initiated the review?

lincroft1710

The time for a VOA response should be on their website. The VOA do not reveal who initiated a review. But if a formal appeal had been made which caused band increases in neighbouring dwellings, that appeal is in the public domain and can be viewed so may give neighbours a clue as to who may caused their band increase.

50Twuncle

Good luck with your challenge
I tried 3 or 4 years ago - my property was valued at £49,500 in 1992, paid £74k in 2000 (nationwide valuation) - which puts it in a band B - Yet it is still a band C - I challenged the decision of the VOA - But they just came back with "Sorry - your valuation is inaccurate, ours is correct" and since I have already been through the procedure - I can take it no further !!!

lincroft1710

50Twuncle wrote: »

Good luck with your challenge
I tried 3 or 4 years ago - my property was valued at £49,500 in 1992, paid £74k in 2000 (nationwide valuation) - which puts it in a band B - Yet it is still a band C

In most areas 1992 house prices were about 10% lower than 1991 prices, so Band B probably is correct. If you meant 1991, then NW house price indices are inaccurate, tending to undervalue, so again Band B probably correct.

harshitguptaiitr

How long does it really take to get an outcome from VOA for the council tax band challenge?

I asked a few colleagues who have successfully challenged and they told me it takes 6-7 weeks to get decision on formal challenge. I am not sure what is a formal challenge and informal challenge.

Is this a formal challenge?
- doing neighbour check
- doing valuation check
- calling VOA

lincroft1710

A "formal challenge" probably means a valid appeal i.e. an appeal made within the 6 month time limit.

Overseer

A former Tory housing minister stated that all councils should consider every appeal, including post 6 month owners, therefore. I appealed to Lanarkshire VJB as I am on band F, but similar properties in other nearby developments are on band E. The Assessor stated that the valuation included, location, amenities, character of the property as well as dimensions.
Ironically, the appeal could be referred to the Valuation Appeal Committee but the hearing would be restricted to deciding if the appeal has been lodged within the time limits allowed by the legislation, and not deal with matters relating to disputed banding at that stage. ???
I want to find the details recorded by the assessor at the time of the valuation. That might be available via Freedom of Information Act..
Can anyone give advice?

lincroft1710

Overseer wrote: »

A former Tory housing minister stated that all councils should consider every appeal, including post 6 month owners, therefore. I appealed to Lanarkshire VJB as I am on band F, but similar properties in other nearby developments are on band E. The Assessor stated that the valuation included, location, amenities, character of the property as well as dimensions.
Ironically, the appeal could be referred to the Valuation Appeal Committee but the hearing would be restricted to deciding if the appeal has been lodged within the time limits allowed by the legislation, and not deal with matters relating to disputed banding at that stage. ???
I want to find the details recorded by the assessor at the time of the valuation. That might be available via Freedom of Information Act..
Can anyone give advice?

You will probably get little more than type, size, age, no. of rooms as that is all the Assessor probably has on your home. It is possible this info may be provided by the Assessor without invoking FOI