Wrong CT banding - worried

Lunamia

Hi, I could do with some advice please.
I moved into my present home in 2013, a 4 bed bungalow, with my late husband and daughter, we had been in social housing prior to this. 

I know that the house has been extended twice, one of the extensions was to convert the garage into a fourth bedroom. 

It is listed as band C. I checked all the paperwork, the solicitor seemed happy with everything, and as it was our first property of our own, I thought all was ok - I also checked on the council website.
I’ve now looked it up in the Gov website, after seeing the link here, it looks like they didn’t have it rebranded  when they added the extensions - but the council approved the extension work!
Im really worried. They can’t come after me for this can they? I checked all the paperwork and council website, surely if it was wrong the council should have picked up on it?

JGB1955

AIUI re-banding doesn't take place until the property is sold.  It is, therefore, possible that there will NOW be a re-banding and payment will be due from the date the Council Tax list is changed.

see Council Tax band changes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Lunamia

JGB1955 said:

AIUI re-banding doesn't take place until the property is sold.  It is, therefore, possible that there will NOW be a re-banding and payment will be due from the date the Council Tax list is changed.

see Council Tax band changes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

They did two extensions, last being in 1996, they sold it to us in 2013. If all the paperwork said everything was in order, surely I shouldn’t be responsible? 

I don’t understand why re-banding wouldn’t have happened when they sold it to us?

lincroft1710

Mistakes happen. It is possible that either planning failed to notify the council's finance section of the extensions or the finance section failed to notify the Valuation Office Agency (the body that deals with CT banding). Band C seems suspiciously low for a 4 bed bungalow.


If the current CT band does not reflect any pre 2013 alterations then it can be increased. In England such a band increase cannot be backdated but unfortunately in Wales it can be.

MalMonroe

This link may be helpful, updated by Martin on 9 Feb. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change/

Although the article's main focus is on bandings being too high, you really do want to get your banding correctly recorded because it's causing you great concern. Just ask your council. It's the only way you're going to know for sure. And ask them to put the correct banding in writing, too. 

It could be that you are in the correct band after all and you don't need to worry any more. But even if it's wrong, then at least you'll know and again, your worries will hopefully be eased. 

Also, are you eligible for any council tax relief? It's worth checking that, too. 

lincroft1710

MalMonroe said:

This link may be helpful, updated by Martin on 9 Feb. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change/

Although the article's main focus is on bandings being too high, you really do want to get your banding correctly recorded because it's causing you great concern. Just ask your council. It's the only way you're going to know for sure. And ask them to put the correct banding in writing, too. 

It could be that you are in the correct band after all and you don't need to worry any more. But even if it's wrong, then at least you'll know and again, your worries will hopefully be eased. 

Also, are you eligible for any council tax relief? It's worth checking that, too. 

For the third time, councils have nothing to do with CT banding! Banding is done either by the Valuation Office Agency (part of HMRC) in England and Wales) or by the Assessor (Scotland). 


If the OP approaches either the VOA or Assessor (whichever is applicable) they will probably have to do a physical inspection of the property to compare what is there with what is on their records. If the band needs to be increased the VOA will send a notice of a band increase with the effective date of increase.

Slinky

Mistakes are made. We built a large extension on our old house increasing the footprint size by about 40-50%. The council appear to have missed putting an Improvement indicator on it as it's still in band E, 2.5 years after we sold it. Other properties in the road which have also been extended have been moved into F.

Lunamia

I appreciate all your replies, thank you. 

May I ask a question, please, honest answers. If you were me, would you contact the VOA? I’m in England. Thanks again. 

lincroft1710

Lunamia said:

I appreciate all your replies, thank you. 

May I ask a question, please, honest answers. If you were me, would you contact the VOA? I’m in England. Thanks again. 

I'm ex VOA.

There is no legal obligation for you to contact the VOA and you cannot be penalised for not doing so. Purely up to you if you are troubled by the fact that you may be paying less Council Tax than you think you should be. Most people would let sleeping dogs lie.