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

guppy

Hi Vikk

From the Valuation Office website (https://www.voa.gov.uk) :

"The main assumptions that we must make when deciding the price a dwelling would have sold for on 1 April 1991 are as follows:

- that the sale was with vacant possession;

- that the interest sold was freehold except for flats when a lease for 99 years at a nominal rent has to be assumed (The actual lease term is ignored);

- that the dwelling had no potential for any building work or other development requiring planning permission;

- that the size, layout, and character of the dwelling as well as its locality must be considered as they actually existed at 1 April 1993 or, depending on the circumstances, a later date;

- that the dwelling (and any common parts such as an entrance or hallway shared with other dwellings) was in a 'state of reasonable repair'. "

By the way, for all those that can't find their house on the website try searching by street as postcodes aren't infallible!

Hope this helps.

Guppy

Sarahsaver

Should I appeal? The houses either side of me are 3 flats each at band A, my house is at band C. Or would they just charge me more?

withabix

They are FLATS, yours is a HOUSE.

What are the grounds of your intended appeal???

They can increase your banding when you appeal, so beware!

Chick

Hello everyone,

I've appealed as I live in a block of flats where half of us are in band C (myself included) and the other half are in band B...there doesn't seem to be any logic or reason as to why we are in different as we're all a similar-ish size & layout.
That's my primary gounds for appeal, also there a big detached properties close by which are also band C which doesn't seem entirely correct.

Anyhow, my appeal is going through & it's going to a valuation tribunal within about 6 months.
NB the VOA do not accept that I have made a valid proposal (as it was more than 6 months after I moved in), but I have put it to them that the council tax banding is not consistent with the buildings where I live.

Will be interesting to see how it all turns out...from other people's experience, is it likely I will have to wait the full 6 months before anything changes?

itzmee

I'm lucky as my neighbour appealed after talking to other people on the street, we had a 2 bed house and on band B, the same as the other houses which were 3 bed! Anyway he won the appeal and all the 2 bed houses on the street were automatically changed to band A and I got around £400 backdated.

Babbler

How long does an appeal taker? Can I phone and ask if I can appeal? I just moved to flats a mile down the road from my old semi detached. (renting). The old semi was Band B and the flat is Band C! I want to appeal, but not sure if its worth it. Unlikely to get put on band D as that would really be ridiculous for a 2 bed flat!

oldwiring

Tried varioua ways but my post code and adresss does not come up. I'm not intending to go through 1000 items on first part of code.

Believe this; the house was built in 71 and I am paying the tax!!

bonio_2

I have just waved goodbye to the Valuation chap who confirms he is adjusting my band from D to C.
I am one 2 houses out of a block of 10 indentical 2 bed houses.
He put down the "error" to either a computer glitch or it was mentioned that my property perhaps had 3 metres more floor space (he didn't think this was true).
Anyway he didn't think it warranted thousands in extra valuation criteria.
He tells me the Council will be in touch re the refund of 7 years overpayments.
Do the councils apply interest lost over the years or am I asking for jam on it.

Babbler

bonio wrote:

I have just waved goodbye to the Valuation chap who confirms he is adjusting my band from D to C.
I am one 2 houses out of a block of 10 indentical 2 bed houses.
He put down the "error" to either a computer glitch or it was mentioned that my property perhaps had 3 metres more floor space (he didn't think this was true).
Anyway he didn't think it warranted thousands in extra valuation criteria.
He tells me the Council will be in touch re the refund of 7 years overpayments.
Do the councils apply interest lost over the years or am I asking for jam on it.

Hello,

How long did it take for the process to happen? Did you apply online?

Thanks

Maisie

bonio wrote:

I have just waved goodbye to the Valuation chap who confirms he is adjusting my band from D to C.
I am one 2 houses out of a block of 10 indentical 2 bed houses.
He put down the "error" to either a computer glitch or it was mentioned that my property perhaps had 3 metres more floor space (he didn't think this was true).
Anyway he didn't think it warranted thousands in extra valuation criteria.
He tells me the Council will be in touch re the refund of 7 years overpayments.
Do the councils apply interest lost over the years or am I asking for jam on it.

I think the tax office have a system (I may be wrong) if through their error you pay too much income tax they pay interest.

Surely council tax should be the same? Go for it !!!

Good Luck... Maisie. OP