Challenging Discount has lead to home being re-banded

oconnoap

Hi forum users,
We purchased a new home in South Lanarkshire in October 2019. I work away from home so my wife and I applied for single person discount. Initially the Authority refused the discount, however on appeal we were awarded the discount. In the meantime the Lanarkshire Valuation Joint Board have moved the property from Band F to G and back dated to the purchase date. The net effect is an increase of over £500 per annum. It's a word of warning but also would be curious if other users have had similar experiences and should we challenge the assessment?

p00hsticks

Not familiar with how it works in Scotland, but if it's the same as in England then I very much doubt the single person discount had anything to do with the rebanding as one is decided by the local council and the other (in England at least) by the VOA (googling indicates it's an Assessor in Scotland?).  In England, if the property has been extended or improved by the previous owner then the banding is flagged up to be reviewed by the VOA the next time the property is sold and this is shown by an indicator on the council tax register so it can be picked up by potential purchasers or their solicitors - not sure if it's the same in Scotland

dunstonh

Yes, there have been cases in England where people have been rebanded upwards by drawing attention to an anomaly in pricing.

There was one chap who was trying to get his rebanded lower and the council not only decided to up his band but also all his neighbours too.

p00hsticks

dunstonh said:

Yes, there have been cases in England where people have been rebanded upwards by drawing attention to an anomaly in pricing.

There was one chap who was trying to get his rebanded lower and the council not only decided to up his band but also all his neighbours too.

But in this case the OP wasn't challenging the banding - just appealing whether they were eligible for a single person discount. So I don't think one would have led to the other as (at least in England) those are determined by two completely separate organisations.

dunstonh

p00hsticks said:

dunstonh said:

Yes, there have been cases in England where people have been rebanded upwards by drawing attention to an anomaly in pricing.

There was one chap who was trying to get his rebanded lower and the council not only decided to up his band but also all his neighbours too.

But in this case the OP wasn't challenging the banding - just appealing whether they were eligible for a single person discount. So I don't think one would have led to the other as (at least in England) those are determined by two completely separate organisations.

i did wonder as it seems strange to have a single person enquiry turn into reband.  However, it was the word "challenge" in the title that made me wonder if the banding was mentioned at some point.  Or maybe the OP got on the wrong side of a council worker and they felt it needed looking at.     

MalMonroe

Council tax bands are on the internet. All you need to do is google your council and then you will get the information - that is what band your property is in and what you need to pay. 

lincroft1710

I'm not too familiar with the Scottish system. 

In England and Wales banding is carried out by the Valuation Office Agency (part of HMRC), the single person discount is dealt with by the council responsible for collecting CT and appeals are are dealt with by the independent Valuation Tribunal. If an appeal for SPD was heard by the VT then the VOA wouldn't get involved.

A likely scenario is that the LVJB's Assessor was informed by the council that the previous owner of your home had made alterations which necessitated a review of the CT band and coincidentally you asked for SPD. I don't think the two are connected