council tax wrong bad but been in property more than 6 months??

qwert10

Just looked up Dad's council tax band and it must be 3 bed  wrong as 3 bed semis are band C as are 3 storey town houses but so is Dad's teeny tiny 2 bed bungalow old people's.
I was going to challenge it but read this on the website: So  one is band c how can that be fair and any ideas what we can do it is ridiculous that an 86 year old in a tiny bungalow pays what a family in a 3 bed semi does - even the hugely extended semi is the same as him! Yet as we've only just noticed he can't challenge it???
We tried actual reduction for his age with the council but no go.

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You might be able to challenge your Council Tax band if you have evidence that suggests the band is wrong.

When you can challenge your band

You can challenge your band if you have been paying Council Tax on your property for less than 6 months.

If you’ve been paying Council Tax on your property for more than 6 months you can only challenge your band in specific circumstances. These include if:

• your property has changed - for example, it’s been demolished, split into multiple properties or merged into one
• your property’s use has changed - for example, part of your property is now used for business
• your local area has changed - for example, a new supermarket has been built

.

Jeremy535897

See https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change/

After 6 months it is harder and there may be no backdating, but it may still be possible to get a change.

lincroft1710

As regards whether it is correct or not, a 2 bed bungalow in Band C would not be excessive in many areas, it only shows a value in excess of £52,000 as at 1 April 1991 (England). The other properties you mention could have a 1991 value of £68,000 and still be correctly in Band C. Many detached 2 bed bungalows are in Band D or higher.

Look at similar 2 bed bungalows in the area, can you find any in Band B, because that is the sort of evidence you will need to present to the VOA for them to even consider investigating. 

If your father is fortunate in securing a reduced band, it should be backdated

swingaloo

I seem to remember the bands being set by the price the property was worth at the time of banding so it would not be surprising for a bungalow to have a higher price and therefore a higher banding. It does not matter if 2 people or 6 people live at an address the band is not based on occupancy. 
However, your father should not be paying the same a s a family in a 3 bed semi as he should get the singe person discount which reduces his bill.

Hasbeen

qwert10 said:

Just looked up Dad's council tax band and it must be 3 bed  wrong as 3 bed semis are band C as are 3 storey town houses but so is Dad's teeny tiny 2 bed bungalow old people's.
I was going to challenge it but read this on the website: So  one is band c how can that be fair and any ideas what we can do it is ridiculous that an 86 year old in a tiny bungalow pays what a family in a 3 bed semi does - even the hugely extended semi is the same as him! Yet as we've only just noticed he can't challenge it???
We tried actual reduction for his age with the council but no go.

Would not say it is wrong. A 2 bed bungalow is probably on par and is certainly more desirable than 3 bed semis.

Your father is not paying the same as a family in a 3 bed as he will get single persons discount.

But depending on the circumstance your father can still appeal. It will probably not get  any satisfaction though.

qwert10

thanks all!