Council Tax

CLEO1921

I have just moved to a brand new estate and my property is in Band G. The next house style which is larger and more expensive is in Band F. I wrote to the Valuers office and they have written back to say they are looking into the rest of the properties on the estate but ours will stay the same. I've looked into historical sales circa 1991 and found many examples of properties close by, of  similar size (and in some cases much bigger) and they are in Bands E or F. Has anyone been successful at Tribunal and how daunting was it to go through?

lisyloo

I did it and was unsuccessful as they wanted very similar example.
have you provided all your examples to them?
good luck

MARTYM8`

If you can afford to buy a house in Band F or G you should have no bother paying the council on it!

Seriously though you have identified the issue as valuations are based on the position in 1991. This means you have properties in places like Hackney - where few wanted to live back then which are now fashionable - worth a million quid in Bands C or even B.

We need a proper revaluation to sort this unfairness out - people in much of England are in too high a band and are paying too much in council tax and many properties in inner London are in too low a band and aren’t paying their fair share. 

This might well solve your issue!

Herzlos

Presumably the 1991 price still stands even if houses are extended, so were these other houses larger than yours 30 years ago?

CIS

Herzlos said:

Presumably the 1991 price still stands even if houses are extended, so were these other houses larger than yours 30 years ago?

The value of the property, even where a (re)banding is undertaken now (except in Wales), will always work out the price of the property in 1991 to use to set the council tax band. If the property has been extended then it will be revalued when it's sold - the new value again being assessed at what the property would be worth in 1991.

CLEO1921 said:

I have just moved to a brand new estate and my property is in Band G. The next house style which is larger and more expensive is in Band F. I wrote to the Valuers office and they have written back to say they are looking into the rest of the properties on the estate but ours will stay the same. I've looked into historical sales circa 1991 and found many examples of properties close by, of  similar size (and in some cases much bigger) and they are in Bands E or F. Has anyone been successful at Tribunal and how daunting was it to go through?

The tribunal can be hit and miss as to whether you succeed- the onus is on you to prove the the valuation is wrong. Although I run a business dealing with council tax disputes I rarely get involved in the banding side as it's too much of a pain at times.