Challenging tax band in new build

jmmo20

Hi,
I bought a new build a couple of months ago and has been assigned band F.  For the live of me I don't know how to contest this. First I went down and got 5 similar properties nearby. Same number of bedrooms and semi-detached. They said it wasn't evidence enough. Next I went a bit further and gave last sold prices and their equivalent in 1991 prices. Compared to all nearby properties my tax band is much higher. But they replied to me saying all the houses provided were of either differ in size, type or age. 
So giving them similar size is not enough, giving them similar price range and semi-detached is not enough. Obviously if there are no new-build houses in this area I will never be able to prove as they are all different ages to a new build.

Has local government found a way to milk new build buyers?
I'm talking that similar sized houses one road down are in tax band C and we are in band F. That's over £1000 difference in our local authority.

any help will be much appreciated.
Cheers.

moneysavinghero

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

jmmo20

Thanks, I actually followed that advice for my second communication with the valuation office. They came back to me saying all houses were either different size or age. 

Obviously, in this area all houses are pretty old. My house was only built because some properties sold part of their gardens to make a new cul-de-sac.  I sent them evidence of similar properties, 3-bedroom semis.

lincroft1710

Local government have no say in CT banding, the VOA is part of HMRC.

I presume you have made a formal online appeal. If so and your appeal is not agreed it will proceed to a hearing by the independent Valuation Tribunal, where the VOA will present sales evidence to support the band and will have given you details of this prior to the hearing.

jmmo20

lincroft1710 said:

Local government have no say in CT banding, the VOA is part of HMRC.

I presume you have made a formal online appeal. If so and your appeal is not agreed it will proceed to a hearing by the independent Valuation Tribunal, where the VOA will present sales evidence to support the band and will have given you details of this prior to the hearing.

Haven't started a formal appeal yet. I might co-ordinate with my new neighbours as we are all in the same situation.
Do you think it's all about the selling price of this property? The problem I see with that is these are the first new builds in the area in over 30 years, so we cannot compare with other properties in that regards.

moneysavinghero

If you have formally challenged your banding and they are saying no then then only thing you can do is go to the Valuation Tribunal Service:
https://www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/forms/appeal-forms/council-tax-banding-2/

lincroft1710

moneysavinghero said:

If you have formally challenged your banding and they are saying no then then only thing you can do is go to the Valuation Tribunal Service:
https://www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/forms/appeal-forms/council-tax-banding-2/

That's the trouble, he hasn't!

lincroft1710

jmmo20 said:

lincroft1710 said:

Local government have no say in CT banding, the VOA is part of HMRC.

I presume you have made a formal online appeal. If so and your appeal is not agreed it will proceed to a hearing by the independent Valuation Tribunal, where the VOA will present sales evidence to support the band and will have given you details of this prior to the hearing.

Haven't started a formal appeal yet. I might co-ordinate with my new neighbours as we are all in the same situation.
Do you think it's all about the selling price of this property? The problem I see with that is these are the first new builds in the area in over 30 years, so we cannot compare with other properties in that regards.

You must make a formal appeal. It will then be up to the VOA to prove the band rather than you disprove it.

jmmo20

I will start a formal complaint, for sure.
the worst part is that the city council put us in a C band based on the local ward, and then the VOA upped that to band F!
Thanks for all the advice, it was all very useful.

SallyDucati

I feel for you OP.  I have nearly the same issue in that the houses on my little new build development are a higher band than the other 3 bed semis in the village.  Although we're band D and I and my immediate neighbours think it should be C so not so big a difference.  Unfortunately I didn't twig until after I had been here longer than 6 months so I was told I couldn't appeal any further. 
I was told the issue was that there were no other new builds within a close enough area.  
Sorry I can't offer any advice but wish you the best of luck!

macman

jmmo20 said:

I will start a formal complaint, for sure.
the worst part is that the city council put us in a C band based on the local ward, and then the VOA upped that to band F!
Thanks for all the advice, it was all very useful.

But the LA don't set the banding, only the VOA can do that.