Council Tax Banding and Reclaiming Discussion

jo_b_2

Paranoid124 wrote: »

Judging by your show tonight, the majority of people get a re-evaluation actioned over the phone - should we look to call up again? And how long should the entire process take in reality?

I should also mention our property is in Scotland.

Thanks for all your help!

Have you had a look through the main Council Tax Reclaiming discussion thread HERE?

Reading through, it looks like most people have had a result after a couple of months, so would be worth chasing up the original call.

jo_b_2

i_need_help wrote: »

The information provided says initial valuations were done in 1991 and indeed, this site goes on to suggest you need to work out the value of your house in 1991 in order to see if you can claim a refund.

But what happens if your house was built after 1991?

I think I'm in the wrong band but don't know, if because my house was built after 1991, if I'll be able to make a claim?

Any ideas ?

Welcome to the site. :wave:

You might find some more responses to your queries over in this discussion thread HERE

This post HERE gives some suggestions for people in a similar situation

JEFF1964_2

I am disabled, and a discount on my council tax from my council because i use a wheelchair in the dwelling.

According to the VOA website i am band C, but with this discount i am in band b,

Can i ask the council to look again at my banding.

CIS

If I understand correctly ,

Do you get the disabled band relief ?, is so then the VOA website is correct - the lower banding is a Council Tax issue only and doesn't affect the actual property banding as held with the VOA.

Chilledjim

Hi Jeff,

from your post above I guess that your dweling is band C at the VOA and the local council have awarded you a Disabled Band Reduction (DBR). Which means the council have decided to only charge you at band B (even though you should be charged band C) due to your disability and modifications to the dwelling.

If you were to move out of the property and someone moved in who was not entitled to a DBR they would be charged the band C rate by the council.

The VOA will not review your banding in this case.

Hope this helps

JEFF1964_2

Thanks for your replies

Jeff

acjmacjm

Wonder if anyone can give some advice on next action.
I have contacted VOA after discovering, via this web site, that there are 4 other houses in my road, 2 of them next door but one to mine, that are identical in every way to mine but are in band E and mine in Band F. After going thorugh the process of house selling price and using the comparator identified that in Q2 1991 the value of the house would have been in band E the VOA have rejected my request fro re banding on the grounds that the indicies I used may show market trends but are far too general to be of any use in valuing individual properties. They have further indicated that they are of the opinion that the banding ascribed is correct.
They have alos indicated that there was a valid appeal, by previous owner in Sept 1994, dismissed at a valuation tribunal.
I'm now at a lose what, if anything, I can do next.
Some help / advise woudl be greatfully received.

Diana1230

Hi, They are trying to put you off, How can that charge 2 houses the same 2 different bands??I had also been told that other neighbours had tried to get their banding reduced and failed, so in other words I would be wasting my time.(They hope that you give up by this time).You have to keep going with this, tell them that you want to appeal, and then there will be a hearing. You will need to take any evidence you have with you -What I did was went to the local library and tried to find houses that were for sale in 1991 similar to mine from the local property papers. This would add support to your claim.
1 Week before my hearing was due I received a call from the VOA saying that she now agreed with me and reduced my band. - Don't give up - Fight Them
Good Luck Diana

Athina_Blue

Hi
I am hoping someone has come across this before, and can give me some advice.

As soon as we moved into our house, we received a letter from the valuation office telling us that as the previous owner had extended the property we were likely to receive an increase in banding. This duly happened.

However, many of our neighbours have extended also, but using the rule above, they seem to get to stay in the band they are in, as long as they do not sell up. I can appreciate that our band is probably more realistic possibly, but why should we pay more, and the neighbours pay less until such time as the house is sold and someone else moves in?

I have used the calculator as recommended by Martin, and we are correct on both points. The only thing that stops me putting in a formal request is this wooly issue of the fact that the valuations office are well aware that the properties have been extended but won't take any action until the properties are sold.

Long and the short of it is that we have a house, in fact slightly smaller than our extended neighbours, but they have band C and protection as long as they own it, and we have had to take on band D.

Help - any suggestions anyone?

Thanks

kezzy1234

That happened to me - moved into a band c house which prev owners had extended but they could continue paying c band but on sale they tried to make me pay a d but i fought it and won