Council tax rebanding evidence nightmare, specialists?

jayinessex_2

Hi,

I am having trouble trying to get my house rebabnded, it was newly built just before corona virus hit and banded in my opinion and going by neighbous houses that are similar, 2 bands too high which I cannot afford. I have sent in evidence of 5 similar properties, same amount of bedrooms as mine, detached like mine, similar size or bigger than mine within two miles that are two bands lower than me only to be told it is not enough evidence for them to investigate?! Should I be attaching photos as well? I am at the stage where if I could find a company to do the claim for me I would do so as I am losing sleep over it. Problem is I can't find anyone advertising such a service, any suggestions please? I cannot find sold properties from around 1991 to use as evidence either. Thanks In advance!

lincroft1710

It is extremely rare for CT payers to engage professional help when appealing CT bands. You need to find a local Chartered Surveyor who deals with non domestic rating appeals and has the knowledge/is prepared to deal with a CT appeal. Their services will not be cheap.

You can send photos if you want to.

jayinessex_2

Hi thankyou for your advice and for taking the time to post, I will look into if I don't have any luck with my current response to the VOA.

p00hsticks

jayinessex_2 said:

Hi,

I am having trouble trying to get my house rebabnded, it was newly built just before corona virus hit and banded in my opinion and going by neighbous houses that are similar, 2 bands too high which I cannot afford.

Are you saying that neighbouring similar(identical ?) properties are two bands lower ?

If so if I were you I'd be concentrating on using those as comparisons, rather than ones several miles away - however identical the latter are the location is far enough away to make a substantial difference to house prices.

Is it a new build estate ? Are there many others on the estate in the same band as you and with similar houses ? If so, it could be worth getting together with the owners and clubbing together if necessary for some form of expert assessment.

lincroft1710

p00hsticks said:

jayinessex_2 said:

Hi,

I am having trouble trying to get my house rebabnded, it was newly built just before corona virus hit and banded in my opinion and going by neighbous houses that are similar, 2 bands too high which I cannot afford.

Are you saying that neighbouring similar(identical ?) properties are two bands lower ?

If so if I were you I'd be concentrating on using those as comparisons, rather than ones several miles away - however identical the latter are the location is far enough away to make a substantial difference to house prices.

Is it a new build estate ? Are there many others on the estate in the same band as you and with similar houses ? If so, it could be worth getting together with the owners and clubbing together if necessary for some form of expert assessment.

I got the impression (possibly wrongly) that this was a one off non estate new build, as the reason why the OP did not use the neighbouring houses as comparables.