Help with council tax

thewarmcoconut

In 2024 I contacted the VOA (ctinbox) because I believed my property was in the wrong council tax band. My house was built at the same time, by the same developer, using the same templates as several neighbouring properties that are in a lower band. To me, it seemed completely reasonable that we should all be banded the same.

I sent the VOA the comparable properties in batches of five, but each time I was told they “weren’t comparable”. I even tried using properties larger than mine, built in different years, and still got the same response.

After around six months, they finally told me the property details they held for my house — and they were completely wrong. I corrected the details, assuming this would finally lead to a proper review.

Instead, I was told it would take six months. At six months, they said nine months. At nine months, they said twelve months. At twelve months, they added another three months.

I made a complaint, and shortly after received an email apologising and promising the review would be completed within 30 days.

Forty‑five days later, I received a formal rejection saying the properties I provided were “not comparable”.

I then asked whether they had at least updated the incorrect details about my property, and now they are refusing to tell me anything unless I provide ID — even though they never asked for ID at any point during the previous 18 months of communication. It feels like they are doing everything possible to avoid correcting the band.

Is there anything I can do next? Has anyone else had this kind of experience?

eskbanker

It might be better to post on this board, where council tax banding queries tend to be discussed (this cutting tax one, despite the generic name, usually focuses on income tax, CGT, IHT, etc):

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/other-reclaiming-mortgage-fees-council-tax-etc

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band/after-you-make-challenge

https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/council-tax-appeals/council-tax-banding-appeal/

lincroft1710

Apparently CT payers can ask for the PAD (Property Attribute Data) for their home but they must provide proof it is their home they are enquiring about. Unless the VOA have inspected your home since you first contacted them, it is doubtful they would have altered their records. Also how long after you bought the house did you contact the VOA.

thewarmcoconut

Thank you molerat for the links — really appreciate you taking the time to share them.

And to answer your question, lincroft: I’ve been in the property for almost 10 years now (next month). When I first moved in, the council actually opened two council tax accounts for my address because they mixed up my house number with the number of properties. They made me pay council tax on both for months. I initially refused, but they threatened bailiffs and I was renting a room out at the time, so I ended up paying it. After about nine months they finally closed the second account, but they never refunded anything.

On the government website you can still see two entries for my address with two different bands — the lower one is marked as closed. I did try to chase it years ago, but I was working 14‑hour shifts, seven days a week, and honestly didn’t have the time or energy to fight it, especially since they were only charging me for one account by then.

I’ve only challenged the banding now because it’s so obviously inconsistent with the neighbouring properties, and I finally have a job with normal hours. Council tax is around 15% of my wages and keeps going up while my pay doesn’t.

I’m feeling a bit stuck at the moment because I raised a complaint about them giving out my property details without checking who I was, and the response basically dismissed it as me trying to influence the review — when it wasn’t that at all. And now they won’t tell me anything unless I provide ID, which they never asked for during the previous 18 months of back‑and‑forth. It feels like they still haven’t updated the details.