Unsure if I should appeal my council tax banding decision

Lottie83

I see, thank you for confirming 

Lottie83

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Well I didn’t expect to be back quite so soon but I’ve received the below email from the VOA. 

It appears they have created a new challenge and I’m to allow 12 months for a response. 

Can I ask if this is correct please? I just thought I was querying the original challenge? 

I did state in my original challenge that the measurements were incorrect so I’m
unsure why they didn’t send someone to check rather than just rejecting my challenge? 

lincroft1710

I think this is incorrect, your original challenge is still outstanding and creating a new one is to your detriment as its start date is outside the 6 month time limit for an appeal to the Tribunal.

Lottie83

Thank you. I have spoken to the VOA again and they’ve advised to ignore the new challenge and just proceed to an appeal. 

Lottie83

Hello, I’m back yet again with another question - sorry! 

I’ve checked the band D properties in my village and the three villages used by the VOA. I have found 20 detached properties which are all larger than mine. Unfortunately the information isn’t available for all the properties, so there may potentially be more. 

The VOA wouldn’t give me the external
measurements, but as the majority of these properties are larger internally than mine is externally, it’s safe to say they are bigger than mine. 

Please can I ask if this is enough evidence? Or do I also need to try and look at the values in 1991? I fear that may be an impossible task!  

Thank you 

lincroft1710

You can use whatever you believe supports your case. If VOA records show these properties are not larger than yours, they will soon tell you. What you should be concentrating on is getting your home remeasured, as this may save you a lot of work if the measurements are found to be incorrect.

Lottie83

Thank you. 

I have asked the VOA to measure my house and they’ve advised that this isn’t something they would do. They said the Council measured it (but wouldn’t say when) and that is the information they are using. The measurements they hold are 100% incorrect but they do not seem to be interested in ascertaining the correct measurements. 

I’ve also explained the discrepancy with the size of my house has resulted in their decision being based on incorrect information but they have just said to appeal. 

I’m not sure what else to do in terms of getting this resolved? I certainly cannot get a clear answer from the VOA about this. 

lincroft1710

It is incumbent upon the VOA to resolve any factual inaccuracies before any Tribunal hearing takes place. The Tribunal would not look kindly on the VOA if it gets to that stage with an unresolved dispute about the size of the property. If the council did measure it,which is a possibility, then that would have been done prior to 1950.


Just remind them that it is in their interests that there is agreement between the parties on such matters prior to the Tribunal hearing 

Lottie83

I absolute agree that it’s in both parties best interest to resolve this dispute. 

Perhaps my challenge wouldn’t have been rejected had they had the correct measurements. 

Thank you for your advice, I will phone the VOA again tomorrow. 

Lottie83

Just to update (in case anyone is in a similar situation), the VOA refused to engage.

I submitted my appeal early December 2025 and the hearing will be on 14 May.

I’m not sure how we’ll have a hearing with the size discrepancy still unresolved, but here we are.

The VOA are meant to submit their case by 2 April but to date, I’ve heard nothing from them.

Using freedom of information requests, I’ve been able to obtain information which supports my case so this might be a worthwhile tip for others.

I’ll update again after the hearing.