Finding similar properties that match my own

CoKe_DeMi

Hi, 

I have been trying for several months now to get my council tax banding re-evaluated, but I have come to am impasse and wonder if anyone has any suggestions on how to overcome.

My situation: Our flat is one of six in a 2 storey block. The block was built around 2008 on a plot that was previously occupied by a house. Our immediate neighbours are houses and the closest flats to ours are typically newer builds, and the majority of them are on a lower Council Tax (D) band than ours (E). I have scoured the web for details of other flats nearby and it seems I cannot find one that was built in a similar time period to ours and therefore I fall foul of one of the criteria for re-evaluation. This is annoying as there are newer flats to ours nearby that sell for a much higher price, have similar criteria in all other aspects to ours but are on a lower tax band. 

Does anyone have any advice on a strategy to take? Is there a way I can search for a similar age property close to me?

born_again

Are all the 6 flats in the same band?

lincroft1710

Use the newer flats and any other flats basically the same size but in a lower band even if slightly older or newer

CoKe_DeMi

born_again - All 6 flats are the same banding.
lincroft1710 - I tried this but was told that the age was (and group) were different.
Perhaps the best thing for me to do now is call them - I think my primary problem is that because our flats were built on the grounds of an old house, I am struggling to find comparable properties within 1/4mile of us.

lincroft1710

I presume you were out of time to make a valid appeal.


If this is the case, then in view of the VOA's intransigence I think you will struggle to achieve a reduction

uptdale

Have any of the other 5 flats in the same block changed hands or occupation in the last 6 months?  If so, if they are the same as yours, see if you can persuade the new owner or occupier to challenge the band, in the expectation that you would also benefit from any reduction.  Or wait until one of the flats does change occupier and do likewise.

CoKe_DeMi

lincroft1710 & uptdale - Thanks for the further feedback. None of the flats have changed hands recently (we were the last, 2 years ago) so I think we might have to wait..... but I'll also try calling them and see if a few more wasted hours can get me anywhere!