council tax - unfair change from D to E

langlin

Hi

Bought my cottage in 2018. It had previously not been sold since 1985. It's 100s of years old, thatched, nothing else like it for miles.
Recently the VOA sent me a letter that the band would change from D to E based on work carried out by the previous owner.
The previous owner did one work on the cottage, in 1995. 
It seems they base the band rise purely on the fact that ANY work has been carried out, without giving any consideration of the effect on its value - this seems grossly unfair ! robbery even !!
I wrote an appeal, in which I pointed out that the property has changed from detached to semi-detached since 1995, due to work carried out by my neighbour.
I also wrote to list other larger, more valuable properties nearby which are Band D. 
I also supplied recent valuations.
I got the standard reply, that I have provided insufficient information to make an appeal because I had not cited nearby similar properties.  
I said to them, there are no nearby similar properties, and I thought the case I had made was very strong.
So I am very disappointed that my appeal was rejected.  As far as they know, the works done in 1995 could have added no value whatsoever !!
Is there anything ese I can do, please, anyone ?

Many thanks

lincroft1710

It would be unusual for the VOA to have increased the band without inspecting. What works did the previous owner do to make the property semi detached and how did it increase the size of your cottage?

langlin

Thankyou Lincroft,
The VOA have clearly not done an assessment except for looking at planning records, and seeing that something was done in the 1990s !
My neighbour installed a car port and a kitchen which actually joined her house to mine, before I bought.
It seems very unfair that the VOA can take this action - do I have some means of appeal against it, on the basis that the council tax rise did not go through some due process ?
Thanks again.

lincroft1710

You cannot appeal on the basis of an allegation of not following due process and do you have proof of such. In any case you have already appealed the band and if that appeal was made against the VOA Notification of a Band Increase, the matter will be referred to the independent Valuation Tribunal.