Council banding

Keefa666

HI, The property i live in is council owned. So no valuation of the property has been recorded either by VOA, Council or housing association ( so i am being told ) I have tried using other properties in the same compound as mine, but all are bigger and most have two bedroom so i feel its not the same or am i wrong ?. Yet just outside of my compound properties that are smaller or close to my size and have one bed are in band A. I have been arguing for months with the council, voa and asked them to prove i am in Band B and show evidence of property value but they can not or refuse to offer any information to support their decision. I have now been summon to court regarding outstanding council tax. Its a stressful time, but im willing to fight rather than back down until i have been proven wrong or right. I am being told just to except the decision or go to jail

p00hsticks

My view - Pay the council tax owed and continue to argue. You'll get a refund if you are eventually proved right, but council tax is a priority debt with a possible jail sentence that could severely affect your life going forward. 

As far as I'm aware, it's up to you to produce acceptable evidence that your property is in the wrong band, not for the VOA to produce evidence that it's in the right one. 

Blancmang25

Keefa666 said:

HI, The property i live in is council owned. So no valuation of the property has been recorded either by VOA, Council or housing association ( so i am being told ) I have tried using other properties in the same compound as mine, but all are bigger and most have two bedroom so i feel its not the same or am i wrong ?. Yet just outside of my compound properties that are smaller or close to my size and have one bed are in band A. I have been arguing for months with the council, voa and asked them to prove i am in Band B and show evidence of property value but they can not or refuse to offer any information to support their decision. I have now been summon to court regarding outstanding council tax. Its a stressful time, but im willing to fight rather than back down until i have been proven wrong or right. I am being told just to except the decision or go to jail

You have the right to challenge your council tax band, via the VOA.

The banding of properties for council tax has nothing to do with the local authority.

With regards to the Summons you have received I would advise you to contact the council regarding your council tax asap.

The only defence for the purpose of the Summons is if you are quering liability, i.e: you are not responsible etc;

The court has no jurisdiction regarding the banding of your property.

lincroft1710

As others have said

1. pay your CT bill, disputing your band is not a legitimate reason not to pay

2. it is for you to prove the band is wrong, not for the VOA to prove it is correct