Council tax band increasing and they want to backdate it

Red_Arrow_X

We've received a letter from the Scottish Assessors advising our property is increasing a council tax band due to an extension done by the previous owners over 20 years ago.

We accept the increase, while a bit annoyed. But our main issue is they're back dating the rate increase to when we purchased the property which was over 14 months ago.

If they come looking for this money in one go it will be around £700, which is a large sum for us right now due to other improvement works taking place on the property.

Is there any point in challenging this (the back dating, not the increase)? We feel it's a slight punishment back dating it so far because they we're slow to address this.

lincroft1710

In Scotland, if a CT band is increased because of alterations being carried out and a subsequent sale, the effective date of the increased band will be the same as the date of the first sale after the alterations had been carried out. So the Assessor is correct in backdating the new band to the date you purchased the property.


It doesn't matter if the Assessor had issued the band increase letter the day after or 2 years after you bought the property, you would still have to pay the same amount of CT.

Caz3121

the Assessors website where you can search bands for properties shows...
"Bands shown do not include the effect on value of alterations or improvements carried out by the current owners.
Only when a house is sold will they be taken into account and from the date of sale.
There may however be a delay in amending the Band, pending information required by the Assessor becoming available."
don't think there is anything you can do about it.

400ixl

If it is the same as in England, then your conveyancer should have identified that there was a flag on the property for re-banding as part of the purchase process. This applies from the date of sale if it is to change band.

Did you not get told this by your conveyancer / solicitor?