Council Tax question - confused about 1991 valuations!

Rarchy

I have just read the article on council tax and done all the tests.

We're currently in band C, however pretty much all of our neighbours are in B (it says ours was effective as of 1995)

I looked up how much houses in my area has been sold for recently. Ours was bought by our landlady in Sept 2006 for £160k. Other houses, all of which were in band B and had been bought between Nov 2005 and Sept 2007, were sold for more than ours!

So I thought bingo, I'm onto something here!

However, I then followed the next step, working out the value in 1991. It seems according to the 2006 sale price ours was worth £52635 which is band C and means the council are correct. However all of my neighbours houses were all above his value in 1991 and yet are in B...

Does this mean I have a valid case? Can I simply use the argument that the houses near me are worth more and are all in B? I am a little confused about where the 1991 valuations come into it.

I know this is when they were all done, but can it be based on something more recent, or does it have to be the equivilent of the 1991 value?

Do I just phone my local council? I read stories of people who sorted it in one phone call!

CIS

You need to speak the Valuation Office (part of HMRC). You can find the local office at https://www.VOA.gov.uk. The council has no say at all in banding a property.

If the properties are reviewed then the VO may make a determination that they have been under-banded and increase them from a B to a C.

gabyjane

Hi all i will say is that we are in exactly the same situation BUT we are a new build which tends to make it harder as no houses here before! i have ummed and ahhed over appealing and thought what the hell! I would say 90% of the surrounding raods where i am are A or B and we are a C so it's gone and fingers crossed! if they leave it as a C fine but if it goes up i will prob cry!!
I tried ringing the VOA but they just sent out an appeal form so we will see!

vivatifosi

Hi Rarchy,

Firstly, how lovely it is to see a picture of the glorious Mr Mourinho, and not Mr Potato Head who replaced him. I'm swooning now...

The house price calculators are only approximations. Different towns, different house types etc will have seen their prices go up and down differently. Also you can't use the house price calculators as evidence that your house is priced incorrectly anyway.

What you need to do is find out what price houses in your area were selling for in early 1991. There are two ways of doing this:
1. Ask the neighbours
2. Check the old newspaper copies (may be on microfilm) at your local library.

That will help you establish whether you have a good basis for appeal or not.

Rarchy

Thanks for your replies.

Hmm, I think for now I will wait before I go to the library (yes I'm too lazy!) and I don't think the neighbours I know have lived there long enough so I have emailed the local VOA to see if that gets me anywhere - if not I will then look into going to the library!

Glad you appreciate the pic of Jose, I haven't forgotten him and am looking forward to the day he returns to Chelsea (he will!)