Wrong Council Tax Band Help

ChrisP687

Hello, I have never posted on the forum before and looking for some help. 

I believe I may be in the wrong council tax band. We moved in 7 years ago and I have just come across the possibility we may be in the wrong band. This may be too late to dispute it. We are currently in Band D and I think we could be Band C. 

A like for like house on my road is Band C. I am not able to find the value of my house in 1991 but the house similar sold in 1994 for £56,500, which would be within the band C valuations. 
When I have gone to dispute our banding, the Council website states that, because I have been paying for more than 6 months, I am only allowed to dispute if; your property has changed, your property’s use has changed or your local area has changed. Unfortunately none of these apply.
Does anyone know if it still possible to challenge the band? 

Thank you very much for your help

Lifematters

You can still challenge the council tax banding if you have been in the property over six months, under certain circumstances. You need to contact the Valuation Office. More details are on Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band

ChrisP687

Thank you so much for your reply and advice. I will do this

lincroft1710

In many areas 1994 prices were 25% lower than 1991, so a 1994 price of £56,500 would probably have been around £75,000 in 1991, so comfortably in Band D

GaleSF63

I've never understood why you can't challenge it if you've been in a property more than 6 months. The valuation is either right or wrong however long someone has lived there.

It lessens their workload of course.

lincroft1710

GaleSF63 said:

I've never understood why you can't challenge it if you've been in a property more than 6 months. The valuation is either right or wrong however long someone has lived there.

It lessens their workload of course.

Because when CT was introduced, Parliament decided that 6 months was long enough for someone to appeal their band. It was also to stop vexatious appeals. CT payers can still ask for a band review if they missed the 6 month window for appeal, but they cannot refer the matter to the Valuation Tribunal.


It is understood that Parliament's intention was to keep costs down (remember the VOA and the Scottish Assessor and the VT are all funded from the public purse) rather than lessen any workload.

GaleSF63

lincroft1710 said:

GaleSF63 said:

I've never understood why you can't challenge it if you've been in a property more than 6 months. The valuation is either right or wrong however long someone has lived there.

It lessens their workload of course.

Because when CT was introduced, Parliament decided that 6 months was long enough for someone to appeal their band. It was also to stop vexatious appeals. CT payers can still ask for a band review if they missed the 6 month window for appeal, but they cannot refer the matter to the Valuation Tribunal.


It is understood that Parliament's intention was to keep costs down (remember the VOA and the Scottish Assessor and the VT are all funded from the public purse) rather than lessen any workload.

When I said it lessens the workload I did have vexatious appeals in mind - partly!  I appreciate that it would happen. I can understand that and from reading more threads here, I'm pleased to see that people have succeeded outside the 6 month cut-off. 

 I don't think it's foremost in one's mind in the first 6 months of a new house though and it didn't occur to me to try after the 6 months as I thought it was a non-starter.

 As it happens, something has triggered a change (after many years) and my banding has been reduced  along with all the others on the higher band, - I don't know why a block of identical flats built after  council tax was introduced didn't have the same band for every flat in the first place. Or if they did, and some appealed, why those appeals didn't result in a change for the rest. 

lincroft1710

GaleSF63 said:

lincroft1710 said:

GaleSF63 said:

I've never understood why you can't challenge it if you've been in a property more than 6 months. The valuation is either right or wrong however long someone has lived there.

It lessens their workload of course.

Because when CT was introduced, Parliament decided that 6 months was long enough for someone to appeal their band. It was also to stop vexatious appeals. CT payers can still ask for a band review if they missed the 6 month window for appeal, but they cannot refer the matter to the Valuation Tribunal.


It is understood that Parliament's intention was to keep costs down (remember the VOA and the Scottish Assessor and the VT are all funded from the public purse) rather than lessen any workload.

 As it happens, something has triggered a change (after many years) and my banding has been reduced  along with all the others on the higher band, - I don't know why a block of identical flats built after  council tax was introduced didn't have the same band for every flat in the first place. Or if they did, and some appealed, why those appeals didn't result in a change for the rest. 

Why would you wait years before thinking about querying your CT band? In the literature sent out with your CT bill, it does say you have a right of appeal. Plenty of people do appeal their band within 6 months.


In the early days of CT appeals, caseworkers were given loads of appeals to deal with. When one had been dealt with, it was on to the next. If a reduction was given, there was no time nor infrastructure to deal with other properties which may be due a similar reduction. 


However around 2003, when there were fewer appeals, it was decided to deal with what were known as "consequentials", As far as I can remember, it only applied to properties affected by reductions resulting from current and subsequent appeals, previous appeals were not revisited.


Also some of the flats in your block may have been incorrectly identified.

Jmurphy850

I emailed a council tax banding challenge in February and had an acknowledgement and told to contact Valuation Office Agency again in June if I haven't had a reply. I emailed again in June and got an email back saying I won't hear from them again until they have dealt with my case. Is it normal to take over 6 months. Gave up trying to phone them as no one answers the phone.

lincroft1710

Jmurphy850 said:

I emailed a council tax banding challenge in February and had an acknowledgement and told to contact Valuation Office Agency again in June if I haven't had a reply. I emailed again in June and got an email back saying I won't hear from them again until they have dealt with my case. Is it normal to take over 6 months. Gave up trying to phone them as no one answers the phone.

Can easily take 6 months for a banding challenge to reach the top of the pile. It will depend on workload and caseworker availability