Council Tax. Are You Paying More Than Your Neighbours? Check It Out

tinpanalley

Any site for Scotland?

sare_2

Can anyone tell me if the 50% rule on houses unoccupied for more than 6 months is a national requirement, or can local councils charge what they like?

My parents inherited a house 3 years ago, and for various reasons they are still renovating it.Our local council imposed a 90% charge on such houses several years ago, and so my parents have spent the last 2 and a half years paying 90% of a Band D house.

I just wondered if there might be any grounds to appeal as to whether the 90% is a legal charge?
Our council have been in the press so much lately for bringing in parking charges that weren't legal, thus causing them to be challenged and then having to repay fines, and for been corrupt in awarding contracts, so I wouldn't put it past them to have ignored legal requirements.

continualdiamond

Just a q regarding band A. I have been band A on 2 occassions soon to be 3 when i buy my first house.

What i dont understand is, is why doesnt a lower band exist? I know it might sound stupid, so let me explain.

Im renting at the moment a 1 bedroom cottage, grade 2 listed. Big kitchen/lounge, garden, bathroom. On the edge of town, 5 min walk away. Band A

Before i rented a mobile home, 1 bedroom, small. Kitchen on 1 wall of hallway. Sewers 10min walk away. Band A.

Im paying LESS for my current rental property than i did for my mobile home. I actually did query my mobile home council tax and was told where i lived was a desired location, what is desired about sewers so close i'll never know.

So why doesn't a lower band exist for the likes of mobile homes? Certainly some are very spacious but others like i lived in and like living in a box, i hated it and moved out after 9mths, a big appeal was how this place is spacious and how i paid less in band A.

lady_fuschia

Sorry if someone's already explained this (I couldn't see it anywhere) but if you appeal to have a property re-valued is there a chance that they could increase the band as well as lower it?
(Some of the similar houses on my road are in band C and some are in A, mine is in

Suppose the question is- is it a case of "Just give it ago you've nothing to lose."?

clbanks

whenever I move I always check the banding and the last two houses I have had the banding was always one higher than it should have been. I was told that if you had lived in the house for more than three years you were not entitled to any refunds. Strangely enough I just checked my old house which is just round the corner and it still comes up as a band higher than it should be. Question, if the council have already altered the banding for a previous owner, surely they should leave it at the correct banding for the new owners? Makes you wonder if the council are trying to pull a fast one! Needless to say I shall be letting the girl that bought my old house know that she is paying too much coucnil tax.

clbanks

Hi, it's a few years since I appealed and won. They work the banding out on the value of your house in 1991, if you know how much it was worth then you could find out what banding you are supposed to be before you appeal. If you haven't increased the size of your house since 1991 you can still take the value of the house from then. As I said I haven't appealed for a few years but I doubt things have changed.

rfeenie

what do they do for a house built in 2001?
A few in my street are band C but we are paying band D, as are the majority. Worth a phone call?

dgdphipps

You mentioned if you live with students you are entitled to a reduction. Is this also the case if you live with two students but also another person that works?
In other words there are four of us in the house, two students and two employed.

I have heard conflicting things and even the tax office were unhelpful. They said I had to pay even if it was just me and a student.

Hope someone can help clear this up for me.

jimclark1967

dgdphipps wrote:

You mentioned if you live with students you are entitled to a reduction. Is this also the case if you live with two students but also another person that works?
In other words there are four of us in the house, two students and two employed.

I have heard conflicting things and even the tax office were unhelpful. They said I had to pay even if it was just me and a student.

Hope someone can help clear this up for me.

The council tax charge is 50% for the property plus 25% for each chargable adult. In summary:

All students = 100% discount
1 non student = 25% discount
2 or more non students = no discount

JC

bobsa1

Could someone give me a bit of advice please. We are in a band F property and have lived here for 7 years. On looking at the others which are similar to mine they are band D. I believe that this was Band F because the previous owner extended. I could be wrong but I think this is grounds for appeal even though I've lived here 7 years.

Could someone let me know if I am right please. Also is there any risk that they can upband you if you ask for a review?

Many many thanks