Council Tax Wrong Band Query - help with 1991 rule

4 Posts

Hi
Please can someone offer advice regarding the 1991 house price rule when challenging a council tax band?
Background
We discovered our house (plus one other) are Band G on our street, whilst others are Band F. Contacted VOA who requested evidence of type of house, size and built at similar time, which we provided. Sent photographs of four houses (from Rightmove before they were modified), clearly showing all identical to ours when built in 1980 and before any modifications/extensions were made. Note I live on a street with 4-5 varied styles of detached houses.
Undertaken a great deal of research on MSE as well as looked on Rightmove 'sold prices', unfortunately some of the comparable houses had no sold figures listed, so we assume they may have been purchased from new build?
Having just spoke to the VOA, as i received a generic reply back again, despite my sending all info and asked why our house is in a higher band. The advisor was very pleasant and helpful and clearly checking her system behind the scenes. I explained I had done my research was unable provide valuation figures from 1991 for comparable houses but reconfirmed that the lower band houses were all identical to ours before any modifications were made and at the time they were built and probably in 1991.
She suggested I not take much notice of the 1991 rule as it was a old rule which Margaret Thatcher has brought it, and that the VOA undertake valuations every year and are notified via a house transaction (sale).
Basically we are being penalised by being in a higher band as our house has been sold twice since the extension/modification was made whilst the others have not. Also, one of the garages in our house has been converted to a room, which is another reason for the higher band. I challenged this and said how do they know if any of my neighbuors are using one of their garages (most are double) an office/room etc... she said they had a duty to notify the VOA! She asked when we purchased the house, the name of the previous owner and whether our neighbours had undertaken the extensions, which I could not answer.
So the only way I can challenge our request is A) provide evidence that one of my neighbours houses is size comparable to our house or
prove we don't have one of our garages used as a room, which we do.
So.... this leads me to the initial point...the 1991 rule does not count when challenging???
Where do i go from here?
Can anyone advise please.
Thanks
Please can someone offer advice regarding the 1991 house price rule when challenging a council tax band?
Background
We discovered our house (plus one other) are Band G on our street, whilst others are Band F. Contacted VOA who requested evidence of type of house, size and built at similar time, which we provided. Sent photographs of four houses (from Rightmove before they were modified), clearly showing all identical to ours when built in 1980 and before any modifications/extensions were made. Note I live on a street with 4-5 varied styles of detached houses.
Undertaken a great deal of research on MSE as well as looked on Rightmove 'sold prices', unfortunately some of the comparable houses had no sold figures listed, so we assume they may have been purchased from new build?
Having just spoke to the VOA, as i received a generic reply back again, despite my sending all info and asked why our house is in a higher band. The advisor was very pleasant and helpful and clearly checking her system behind the scenes. I explained I had done my research was unable provide valuation figures from 1991 for comparable houses but reconfirmed that the lower band houses were all identical to ours before any modifications were made and at the time they were built and probably in 1991.
She suggested I not take much notice of the 1991 rule as it was a old rule which Margaret Thatcher has brought it, and that the VOA undertake valuations every year and are notified via a house transaction (sale).
Basically we are being penalised by being in a higher band as our house has been sold twice since the extension/modification was made whilst the others have not. Also, one of the garages in our house has been converted to a room, which is another reason for the higher band. I challenged this and said how do they know if any of my neighbuors are using one of their garages (most are double) an office/room etc... she said they had a duty to notify the VOA! She asked when we purchased the house, the name of the previous owner and whether our neighbours had undertaken the extensions, which I could not answer.
So the only way I can challenge our request is A) provide evidence that one of my neighbours houses is size comparable to our house or

So.... this leads me to the initial point...the 1991 rule does not count when challenging???
Where do i go from here?
Can anyone advise please.
Thanks
0
Latest MSE News and Guides
Childcare budget boost
More support for children from nine months and those on Universal Credit
MSE News
Replies
The band of a dwelling is 29 years after CT was introduced, still determined by its 1991 value. If a dwelling is sold and there have been alterations, then that would be the only time the VOA would do a valuation other than for a new dwelling. There is no requirement in law for a CT payer to inform the VOA of any change to their home.
Look for similar houses to yours in other streets, you may find some in Band F.
I can only see that we are in a higher band as our VOA have registered the change in alteration, whereas the others are under the radar.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-band-changes
A property that’s increased in size may move to a higher band when it’s next purchased.
You could extend your property to make it the equivalent of a H band but would remain on G whilst you own it, if sold, the next owners would be billed for H