Nervous about challenging Council Tax Band!

Margot2002

Hello there, long time MSE fan - first ever post! 
I have just been helping my parents pay their Council Tax online for the first time. I noticed that they and two other properties are on a higher tax band than the other 60 or so properties on the street. I followed Martin's advice and checked the 1991 value and one is higher and one is lower than the rate of the band at that time. Is it worth challenging this with the council as I think its really unfair that 3 properties have been paying more than everyone else? 

lincroft1710

It will be the Valuation Office Agency you will be dealing with not the council.


If your parents' property is exactly the same as the 60 in the lower band, they can use this as evidence that their home is in the wrong band. All house property price indices are inaccurate and the VOA will not accept these as evidence of an incorrect band.

Margot2002

Its similar to most - a lot have been extended and had garages added etc - my parents house in 1991 was one of the first to be extended but now its tiny compared to most of the huge extensions - hence the unfairness of the higher band. They are in England. 

lincroft1710

If other houses have been extended by their current owners since 1 April 1993, the bands cannot be increased. As your parents' house has been extended then that is probably why their band is higher. If any of the other houses have been extended by a previous owner, then it is more likely that their band is too low rather than your parents' band being too high.


If your parents did want to query their band, then unless you have a POA, they have to do this themselves, but they can appoint you as their agent. However I am not sure if the VOA would need written proof of this before they could discuss the matter with you.