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Council Tax Challenge Question

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charl13is
charl13is Posts: 5 Forumite
edited 5 April 2019 at 11:21AM in Cutting tax
Hi There


We've recently moved into a property and I'm looking to query the council tax banding. I've done the neighbour check and found them to be in a lower band for a similar property. I've also done the valuation check and found that all properties fall within the low band bracket.
I've started to lodge a challenge but I've noticed that the other properties have "Improvement Indicators", does this mean they can't be used as evidence?


Thanks

Comments

  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 14,400 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I'm not an expert, but I'd say you need to try to determine what improvements have been made to those properties that has caused the indicator to be added, and if your property has already had the same in the past - it may be that your has had the same inprovements and as a result has already been rebanded upwards when your purchase (or a previous one) took place.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 5 April 2019 at 1:06PM
    charl13is wrote: »
    Hi There


    We've recently moved into a property and I'm looking to query the council tax banding. I've done the neighbour check and found them to be in a lower band for a similar property. I've also done the valuation check and found that all properties fall within the low band bracket.
    I've started to lodge a challenge but I've noticed that the other properties have "Improvement Indicators", does this mean they can't be used as evidence?


    Thanks


    The improvement indicator is for the band to be looked at on sale. If they've been improved since purchase it would be the original condition at that date of purchase which needs to be looked at to compare the band back over.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,860 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It would be helpful if you could say which band you are in, which house price index you used and how much it valued your house at, and whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales..
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • charl13is
    charl13is Posts: 5 Forumite
    It would be helpful if you could say which band you are in, which house price index you used and how much it valued your house at, and whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales..
    We're currently in band F (England), using the Nationwide calculator it's estimated the value of the property at £98,500 in April 1991.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    So you think it should be roughly middle of a Band E rather than an F band.

    Looking at your property, relative to the (unimproved) neighbouring property then what is the difference ?

    If your property has been extended and sold since 1991 (but prior to your purchase) then that may be the reason for the difference.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • charl13is
    charl13is Posts: 5 Forumite
    CIS wrote: »
    So you think it should be roughly middle of a Band E rather than an F band.

    Looking at your property, relative to the (unimproved) neighbouring property then what is the difference ?

    If your property has been extended and sold since 1991 (but prior to your purchase) then that may be the reason for the difference.
    It's a tricky one as there aren't many properties like ours in the street. I would have thought any extension to ours would have been brought to our attention by the solicitor during the purchase so I don't think it has. I'll have a scout around to see if I can find any others near by.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,860 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Even allowing for the percentage inaccuracy of the NW HPI, that does seem a low figure for a Band F.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
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