Currently not paying council tax for new build property, need advice

gellwood

Hi All, I have moved into a new build last November and since moving in I have not been charged council tax, I have called my local council and they deferred me to the VOA (Valuation Office Agency), upon speaking to them they never received something called a "Billing Authorisation report" and suggested I speak to the council and the developers of my housing estate, the council gave me a copy of my completion certificate and the housing developers have not come back to me, does anyone know what my next steps should be? I really don't want to be hit with a massive payment/fine (I am putting money aside every month around the amount I think i should be paying)

Many Thanks

sammyjammy

Have you spoken to your neighbours?  I would leave it, you've done what you can.  Get some interest on that money whilst you are waiting for them to sort themselves out.

UnsureAboutthis

Put money aside and wait. Have a look around the areas on the net and bandings and you'll get a good idea of what your cT will be, then start putting money aside

As stated above, see in others in the new build with property like yous know anyhting.

lincroft1710

The VOA can band the property without a "Billing Authorisation report" (I'm ex VOA and that's a new one on me!)/ Perhaps contact your councillor to put pressure on the council finance dept to put the wheels in motion

VictrixII

My recent experience with this is that the VOA have a new IT system and it's causing a few issues to say the least.  At least that's what the guy told me on the phone. I've got a slightly different problem in that I appealed against the band on my new build in January (my band was assigned late 2024 a few days after I move in - before this 'new' system apparently).  I didn't hear anything so after about 3 months I phoned the VOA. This is when the guy said about this new system and to phone back later in the year. But a month or so after that I then got a really bizarre letter asking me to send in 'more information' like property sales in the area in 1991. Didn't say where to or how.  BIt of a joke, this house is a new build on a green field site miles from any other houses. Haven't got back to them since.  A couple of neighbours have the same problem as me and some of the newer residents don't seem to have bands at all - I looked on the VOA's website to see if they've been added and they're not there.   I also have a friend who moved into a new build a few miles away in February - no band yet.  He phoned the VOA and was told to talk to the council to see if he can make 'interim' payments because they haven't been able to issue that many new bands because of this new system.  So, I guess, you could phone the council and see if you can make interim payments I suppose??  Or try ringing the VOA again and see if they give you the same/a different message?