Council Tax banding- help please!

Sitdownyourerockintheboat

Hello! 

I am new to the forum & am hoping someone might have some insight into a council tax question I have! 

I live in a new build. It was build around 2009 and I have owned and lived in it since about 2011. Before it was build there was a pub on the site. I'm very confused from what is on the government's website, whether I can challenge my council tax band (which, according to what the property would have been worth in 1991 is too high, although it is in line with my neighbours...) or if I can't because I didn't buy it within that time/the property didn't exist in it's current form then. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

lincroft1710

You cannot formally appeal the band, but you can ask the VOA for a band review but you must provide evidence of properties of a similar age, type and size in a lower band. Obviously try and find properties as geographically close to yours as possible

Sitdownyourerockintheboat

Hey @lincroft1710 Thank you for your reply 
I don't think my flat is in the wrong band because of how other properties are banded around it but because it would have been worth significantly less than the band I'm in in 1991. Does that mean I can still ask for a review? 
Thank you! 

lincroft1710

What makes you think its 1991 value was less than the band minimum and what evidence have you got to support this view? Because without any 1991 sales evidence (which will be virtually impossible to obtain as it is not in the public domain), 1995 sales evidence (in the public domain, but the VOA will have to adjust it back up to 1991 levels) or banding evidence you will just get a generic "computer says no" response

Sitdownyourerockintheboat

I think that the value was less than the band minimum because using the estimator on MSE's website- https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change/ - our flat would have been worth a band less in 1991 than it is currently categorised (I was able to enter the exact price and last purchase date as it is a new build and I've lived in it since it was put on the market). 

We don't have sales evidence because it didn't exist then (the small block of flats was then a pub!) but according to the MSE estimate it has been misbanded... 

Thank you for your thoughts! 

lincroft1710

House price indices are inaccurate and they will not be accepted by the VOA as evidence your band is incorrect (I'm ex VOA and found they were undervaluing 1991 prices by up to 20%).


You can look on the Land Registry site for evidence of 1995 sales of nearby similar flats which may be helpful, but your best bet is to find nearby flats in lower bands.

Sitdownyourerockintheboat

Ah very helpful! Thanks so much! I will look to the Land Registry