Reducing Council Tax Band

Jemmajane

Hello,
Following the latest programme, I checked my council tax banding and my house is in band D but all the other houses (170 of them) on my terraced street are C.
We are end of the terrace, but in fact have a smaller garden than all the other houses as there is a commercial property behind our house that means our garden was shortened some time ago. 

The problem I am facing when it comes to asking council to review the banding for my house, is that when I do the 1991 valuation checker as MSE suggests, it puts me in band E. This must be because it is working off our most recent sale price (we bought in Jan 2018. We are in London). The other most recent sale on our street with a similar recent sale price to ours is classed as band C even though it has more bedrooms than ours. The other most recent sale price on the street is £100,000 less than ours was bought for, but that property was not recently renovated like ours was prior to buying.

The only reason I can think that ours was put in band D in 1991 is due to land that is to the side of our property (that we do not own, which has a storage building at the end of it - used by a commercial firm). We have no right to this land. But perhaps back in 1991 when they were doing the rush job of assigning council tax bands, they assumed that land was ours?

So my question is....is it worth me asking the council to review my banding? The last thing I want to do it get put up to band E because that is what the Nationwide valuation checker for 1991 puts us at. 

I really appreciate your help.

lincroft1710

It would be worth checking with the Valuation Office Agency (part of HMRC) who are responsible for CT banding (not the council) whether the outbuilding is shown as part of your property. It is doubtful your band would be increased.