Council Tax Band Help

plumcrumble

maybe this is getting a bit boring now but I have been trying to get my council tax band changed from B to A 
I found out that all the homes in my area are band B there are 2 bed -terraced houses 3 bed-terraced houses 4 bed detached houses with parking. All in band B. We also have  had 2 and 3 bed-roomed houses built about 10 years ago with private parking also in band A. I provided a lot of information to the VOA but they have still turned me down I found 1 property very similar to my house but it was just a little bigger 2 minuet walk from my  house that property was in band A.  I feel I've  just been give lots of excuses  and think maybe its because we are housing association tenants and we are discriminated against.  this I think is unfair we already pay more rent than council tenants for exactly the same property's
I'm hoping  someone can help PLEASE.

MovingForwards

It's this section you want to look in / ask for guidance:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/other-reclaiming-mortgage-fees-council-tax-etc

lincroft1710

The VOA do not discriminate against HA tenants. If all the homes in your area are Band B, then you are going to struggle to persuade the VOA you are in the wrong band. You mention other houses but fail to say what type of property you have.


As a last resort I would suggest writing to your MP and give them the full facts about the different houses you have found. Avoid the emotion about unproven discrimination and the fact you pay more rent than council tenants. Your MP will receive a proper and considered response from the VOA, but I must point out it may not lead to a lower band. It is very easy to fob off an MP and once they have an answer to their letter do not tend to pursue the matter further

plumcrumble

I have a 2- bedroom 1-bathroom 1-lounge and 1-kitchen end terrace house. built in the 1970s.
What I  think is wrong is that I pay the same council tax as a person  who has a semi-detached 4-bedroom 2-bathroom
 1- kitchen and large lounge. The house is the same age as my house and 1 street away.
I just don't understand how that is fair also my house was sold for £35.500 . As I understood the VOA the value means it should be band A. This 4 bedroom house is not the only one. I thank you for your reply.

p00hsticks

plumcrumble said:

I just don't understand how that is fair also my house was sold for £35.500 . As I understood the VOA the value means it should be band A.

When was it sold for £35,500 ? If it was in April 1991 and that was the true market value then I'd say you have a pretty cast iron case for it being rebanded (although you'd have to wonder why the then owners didn't do it at the time when there was a lot of publicity about appealing the bands).

But if it was earlier or later it may be that the value in April 1991 was over £40,000 - prices generally dropped from that point and didn;t recover for quite a few years.

lincroft1710

Also was the sale an open market sale or discounted HA sale to tenant. If the latter, whatever the year it is of no use in trying to determine the CT band

plumcrumble

p00hsticks said:

plumcrumble said:

I just don't understand how that is fair also my house was sold for £35.500 . As I understood the VOA the value means it should be band A.

When was it sold for £35,500 ? If it was in April 1991 and that was the true market value then I'd say you have a pretty cast iron case for it being rebanded (although you'd have to wonder why the then owners didn't do it at the time when there was a lot of publicity about appealing the bands).

But if it was earlier or later it may be that the value in April 1991 was over £40,000 - prices generally dropped from that point and didn;t recover for quite a few years.

Land Registry has it listed.  Transaction Date 11/04/1997  Price Paid £35.500. 
Thanks for replying I'm really grateful for your help.  I am going round in circles and I find it very difficult to understand 

nick74

plumcrumble said:

p00hsticks said:

plumcrumble said:

I just don't understand how that is fair also my house was sold for £35.500 . As I understood the VOA the value means it should be band A.

When was it sold for £35,500 ? If it was in April 1991 and that was the true market value then I'd say you have a pretty cast iron case for it being rebanded (although you'd have to wonder why the then owners didn't do it at the time when there was a lot of publicity about appealing the bands).

But if it was earlier or later it may be that the value in April 1991 was over £40,000 - prices generally dropped from that point and didn;t recover for quite a few years.

Land Registry has it listed.  Transaction Date 11/04/1997  Price Paid £35.500. 
Thanks for replying I'm really grateful for your help.  I am going round in circles and I find it very difficult to understand 

House prices in many areas of the UK hit rock bottom in around 1996/97 after a few years of falls, so if it sold for £35,500 in April '97 there's a good chance it would have been worth more than £40k in 1991.

lincroft1710

plumcrumble said:

p00hsticks said:

plumcrumble said:

I just don't understand how that is fair also my house was sold for £35.500 . As I understood the VOA the value means it should be band A.

When was it sold for £35,500 ? If it was in April 1991 and that was the true market value then I'd say you have a pretty cast iron case for it being rebanded (although you'd have to wonder why the then owners didn't do it at the time when there was a lot of publicity about appealing the bands).

But if it was earlier or later it may be that the value in April 1991 was over £40,000 - prices generally dropped from that point and didn;t recover for quite a few years.

Land Registry has it listed.  Transaction Date 11/04/1997  Price Paid £35.500. 
Thanks for replying I'm really grateful for your help.  I am going round in circles and I find it very difficult to understand 

Yes but was it sold by the HA to the tenant. If so the sale is of no use for CT purposes. Also a previous poster has said, in 1997 price in some areas were still below 1991 levels.

Three further points to consider. Firstly your house could be right at the bottom of Band B and the others in Band B you have mentioned could be at the top. Secondly the Band A houses and the 4 bed semi could be underbanded. Thirdly in some areas ex council/HA built properties had a ceiling price, whatever their size. So house buyers would not pay more for larger properties because they were on a council/HA estate.