Challenging council tax band

liannalondon

Hi, I inherited my dads house which is a detached 3 bedroom in band f. It has not had any improvements done since the 70s. Every other detached 3 bedroom in the crescent is band E, but I received a couple of quotes from estate agents as to what they would put the house on for ( not what it would sell for) and when I checked Martin's calculator tool that put the house on the lower end of band f. I don't want to challenge and end up getting all the neighbours council tax increased, any advice?

lincroft1710

Check if any of the other houses in the crescent were reduced from F to E. Also is the house the same as the others or are they all different

liannalondon

How do I check without asking them? They aren't identical but are pretty similar. 
I checked what the house next door sold for a few years ago and that's very similar and also detached, and using the calculator it should be band e. I'm thinking maybe estate agents overvalued if they think you want to sell? 

Jude57

liannalondon said:

How do I check without asking them? They aren't identical but are pretty similar. 
I checked what the house next door sold for a few years ago and that's very similar and also detached, and using the calculator it should be band e. I'm thinking maybe estate agents overvalued if they think you want to sell? 

You can check the bands here:

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

lincroft1710

Don't rely on any house price calculators, they are inaccurate and the VOA will not accept them as evidence. From a visual external inspection, does your late father's home look any larger than the neighbours?

liannalondon

No it doesn't. The detached houses on bands f and g apart from my dads have all been extended and are classed as 4 bedrooms. The other detached 3 bedrooms are band e. My dads is 24. 22 and 15 are band e 3 bedroomed detached. 

lincroft1710

From that plan 24 looks larger than 22

Using this link

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/property-attribute-data-pad

can you contact the VOA and obtain the PAD for No. 24 please. Also what was the probate value of the house. I'm ex VOA and both lots of info would give me an idea if Band F is reasonable or excessive.

liannalondon

Oh thank you so much, its so good to know I have an expert helping me and I really appreciate it. I have filled in the online form and it says it usually takes a few days. I have already requested a copy of probate for a different matter so I will give them a reminder. 
I'll post again when I have the info.