Council Tax rebanding advice required please?

sasara0

I want to appeal against my council tax band. Having just moved into a new build property it is difficult to judge how much this property would have been valued at in 1991. Does anyone know where you can source property prices in 1991? Please advise if you can. Thanks

CSL_2

Dear SasaraO

As you probably realise it is not easy. Please read my Post from 19th November 2007 onwards and hyperlink http://journals.aol.co.uk/clivesteuk/convincing-the-voa-listing-offic/, which might help a bit.


Basically, need to know the following:-

Type of New Build - Flat or House (if house then, Terrace, End of Terrace, Semi-detached or Detached?
Year that it was built?
How many bedrooms?
Gross internal floor area?
Garden?
Allocated Parking Space?
Present Council Tax Band?

CSL
[EMAIL="Clivesteuk@aol.com"]Clivesteuk@aol.com[/EMAIL]
Tuesday 27th November 2007

sasara0

Hi Clive

Thanks for your response. Looks like you are making some progress. Good luck with your hunt.

I have researched as many new build 2 bed properties in Nottingham and they all seem to be on band B. As I am also on band b to try and challenge this would be difficult as they appear to be quite consistant.

I believe that my house would have been valued at less than £40k in 1991 putting it in band A. However, this would not be enough to satisfy VOA as it seems that Nottingham put all new build 2 beds on band b. I can only find a few circa 1991 2 beds that are on band a which really isn't sufficient to put a case together.

I appreciate your though. Many thanks

Scary_

Just a thought, are you leasehold?

I'm in a similar aged property and recently got my band reduced (see the success stories thread for details), while researchng I raked out my lease and this contained the price it was sold for originally, in 1992

CSL_2

Dear SasaraO,

Having read through hundreds of Tribunal Decisions on Council Tax, I have noticed a certain patern. Seems that if you can provide a minimum four (4) very similar types of properties to your local VOA Listing Officer, then you stand a good chance of success. Let me know how you get on. If you don`t wish to make things too public, then send me a Private Message.

Best wishes,

CSL
[EMAIL="Clivesteuk@aol.com"]Clivesteuk@aol.com[/EMAIL]
Thursday 29th November 2007 - 0056 hrs

sasara0

Hi

Thanks for your response, but my house is brand new though?

sasara0

Thanks again, I will struggle to find anything in this area where I live as all the houses are social housing and the only others are ours on the new development. Do you think the VOA would accept evidence from other 2 bed houses in other areas of Nottingham?

CSL_2

Dear SasaraO,

I am no expert in this area as you can see from my earlier posts from 19th November onwwards.

All I can think of is that you need to compare like with like (or very similar to very similar) to stand a reasonable chance of success.

Guppy has a lot of knowledge on this front and if he is reading this at the moment, then he might be able to offer a lot of good advice.

Best wishes,


CSL
London SW4
Saturday 1st December 2007

guppy

Hello sasara,

There's no easy way to get hold of 1991 sales unless you know a friendly estate agent or surveyor with access to a sales database.

The favourite moneysaving method is to use asking prices (these are unlikely to be lower than sold prices) from newspaper adverts in 1991. You can find these in the library.

As CSL says, you can also look at Valuation Tribunal decisions and evidence in your area on this website:

http://www.valuation-tribunals.gov.uk/listings-decisions/index.html

You don't necessarily need any evidence to appeal, you can just ask the VOA to justify the banding to you and discuss it with them. Its only when they say "no" and you disagree that you will need to try and prove it is wrong.

Unfortunately if all the bands of flats similar to yours are consistent, you are likely to face a difficult struggle. Its much easier to get a reduction if your band is the result of an obvious one off error. If the VOA believe a new 2 bed flat in your area is correct in Band B, you may have a tough time changing their mind.

Finally, there is loads more advice on the Sticky, and lots of people who have been through the process who might be able to help:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=278090

CSL_2

Dear Sasara0,

How are things going with your search for info to convince your local VOA Listing Officer?


CSL
Wednesday 5th December 2007