Council Tax

chillyiow

We checked our banding on council tax , we live in a Maisonette, block of 4 . One in Band A the rest B . Our property was less than the threshold in 1991 . So we contacted VOA , when we didn't hear back in time we queried it again . Today they emailed and said sorry we've updated our computers so it will now take up to 12 months for us to decide 😀.  Can they fo this . We have lived here for 4 yrs but inherited from mother inlaw so if wrong they could owe quite alot . What can we so next .thank you

Jude57

chillyiow said:

We checked our banding on council tax , we live in a Maisonette, block of 4 . One in Band A the rest B . Our property was less than the threshold in 1991 . So we contacted VOA , when we didn't hear back in time we queried it again . Today they emailed and said sorry we've updated our computers so it will now take up to 12 months for us to decide 😀.  Can they fo this . We have lived here for 4 yrs but inherited from mother inlaw so if wrong they could owe quite alot . What can we so next .thank you

The Valuation Office will deal with Banding appeals in the date order in which they are received, and rightly so. There's nothing you can do to speed up the process but it's possible they've quoted 12 months as the longest time it could take and in reality it might be dealt with more quickly. You could try asking your local Council Tax team to accept payment for the current year's Council Tax at the lower rate but they don't have to agree to this and of course it's possible that your Banding is correct and no refund is due. It's also possible that the owners of the other flats have appealed against their Banding in the 32 years since they received the first Band B bills and been unsuccessful.

lincroft1710

House price indices are inaccurate, so If you used one to calculate the 1991 price then it will probably show too low a figure. Providing they are all identical, one maisonette in Band A indicates that either it is in the wrong band or the band was reduced and the VOA failed to reduce the other three.


"We've updated our computers, so it will now take up to 12 months for us to decide" sounds illogical in itself, but as the VOA are apparently well behind schedule, then it could take that length of time. Nothing you can really do about it except be patient.

chillyiow

Thanks both , I've spoke to others in the block and know my neighbour  paid less than the threshold in 91 . He's been here the longest out of the 4  . The lady that use to live in the one that is band  A was quite shrewd apparently but kept herself to herself  so she may have fought it yrs ago without telling others  , she moved out 10 yrs ago . I know she had a friend as a solicitor  as she organised the buying of the freehold so may have had help . Just have to keep waiting and hope it works in our favour .

lincroft1710

chillyiow said:

my neighbour  paid less than the threshold in 91 . He's been here the longest out of the 4  .  .

Which begs the question - why didn't he appeal his band?


Solicitors do not usually get involved in CT matters, as they are not generally versed in the relevant legislation. I've only ever dealt with one solicitor (I'm ex VOA) and then I had to spell out the legislation for him. 


You can check the banding history of the Band A maisonette by clicking on this link 

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands

and following the instructions therein