My council tax band changed after I moved into my house

K.dagger

Hi,

we have recently bought our first and we’re really happy until we had a letter through from the valuation office saying that due to alterations we need to reassess your Tax band. A few weeks later they come back moving us up a whole tax band meaning that we pay an additional £50 a month on our council tax.

Is this something common and is there anything that can be done about it? 

lincroft1710

It is very common.


If a property owner improves their home, typically by an extension, CT legislation does not permit the band to be increased. However when the property is next sold, then the band can be increased, which is clearly what has happened in your case.


You can appeal the band increase but you will have to provide evidence to support your appeal, such as properties of a  similar age,type and size being in a lower band.

macman

Did your conveyancer not point out to you that your prospective purchase had an improvement indicator flagged against it?

lincroft1710

macman said:

Did your conveyancer not point out to you that your prospective purchase had an improvement indicator flagged against it?

Although in the late 1990s the VOA went to great lengths informing conveyancers /solicitors about improvement indicators, i have a feeling that some have forgotten about this, or the message hasn't cascaded down to new employees