Council Tax banding

georgiaf2006

Would really appreciate some advice. 

I moved into my 1 bed maisonette in sept 2021 and shortly after received a letter from
VOA changing my band from a B to a C. I appealed this decision as our neighbour is still a band B. We are in one property that has been divided into two masionettes and there for are identical in size. After stating this to VOA the believed we should be a band C as changes made to the kitchen increased the value and therefore the banding. I don’t understand this as it’s all based of the valuation in 1991. I was told I could take it to tribunal but left the case there until I saw martins show recently. I still feel we’re in the wrong banding. Other, bigger, properties in my road are in band C and my neighbour still remains a band B. Is there anyway I can challenge this again? 

lincroft1710

The very nature of banding means that there will be very many properties in the same band so the fact there are bigger properties in the same band is to be expected. CT bands are based on what a property would have sold for had it been on the market as at 1 April 1991, in its physical state as at 1 April 1993 or the last sale if a later date.


You did the correct thing in appealing the band, but you really should have taken it to a Tribunal hearing. You cannot make a second appeal, you can only ask the VOA to review the band. But they will undoubtedly say the matter has already been looked into and there is no reason to revisit.

georgiaf2006

I feel it’s really unfair that I should have taken it to a tribunal. I had no idea what that entails at the time and it seems like an easy way to get people to just accept what they have been told by the VOA. I will ask for a review! Thank you for your help! 

lincroft1710

georgiaf2006 said:

I feel it’s really unfair that I should have taken it to a tribunal. I had no idea what that entails at the time and it seems like an easy way to get people to just accept what they have been told by the VOA. I will ask for a review! Thank you for your help! 

The whole point of a Tribunal is to have a third party determine the band when a CT payer doesn't agree with the VOA's decision, The procedure and requirements are comprehensively explained in a booklet issued by the Tribunal. With a review,  if the VOA say the band is correct that is more or less the end of the matter